Kenya faces increasing diplomatic isolation over its perceived association with the Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as major global powers rally behind Sudanese military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. This follows the RSF’s recent announcement in Nairobi regarding the formation of a parallel government and a new constitution, a move that has triggered international outcry.
The presence of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, in Nairobi has escalated tensions between Kenya and Khartoum, with Sudan accusing Kenya of interfering in its internal affairs and undermining its sovereignty. The issue has gained further momentum as the United States, China, Russia, the UK, Turkey, and Guyana have all voiced their support for al-Burhan’s leadership.
The U.S. State Department, through the African Bureau, expressed deep concern over reports of the RSF signing a “transitional constitution,” warning that such moves threaten Sudan’s stability and territorial integrity. Addressing the United Nations Security Council on February 27, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the RSF’s actions risk further fragmenting Sudan.
On February 26, acting U.S. Alternate Representative to the UN John Kelly warned against the RSF’s establishment of a government in its controlled territories, stating that such moves could result in the de facto partition of Sudan. U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Senator Jim Risch went a step further, accusing Kenya of aiding the RSF in legitimizing what he termed “genocidal rule” in Sudan.
“Kenya, a U.S. ally, is helping the RSF legitimize their genocidal rule in Sudan under the guise of peacemaking—this is an unthinkable attempt to obscure the truth and will not end the massacre,” Risch posted on X.
Kenya, designated by the U.S. as a major non-NATO ally in May 2023, has been a key security partner in the Horn of Africa. However, its role in Sudan’s crisis has put its diplomatic standing at risk, especially given its ongoing discussions with U.S. officials over regional security concerns. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also expressed deep concern over the RSF’s political charter, warning that further escalation could deepen Sudan’s crisis and destabilize the broader region
