Diplomatic heavyweight Kenya and Sudan started patching up their rocky relationship after months of bitter feuding between the East African neighbors. Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'Oei sat down with Sudan Embassy Charge d'Affaires Mohamed Akasha to hammer out their differences. Akasha stepped into the ambassador role when Port Sudan yanked its envoy Kamala Jabara back home during February. The diplomatic blowup happened when Sudan accused Kenya of rolling out the red carpet for rebel group Rapid Support Forces. Korir promised Akasha that Kenya only wants peace and unity for Sudan while respecting their sovereignty.
The peace talks came after another nasty war of words erupted between the countries earlier during July. Kenya fired back hard against Sudan Armed Forces who claimed Nairobi was secretly funding and arming the RSF rebels. Government officials completely rejected allegations that Kenya serves as the main pipeline for Emirati weapons flowing to opposition fighters. Prime Cabinet Secretary office blasted Sudan for using Kenya as a scapegoat instead of fixing their internal problems. The statement warned that false accusations threaten regional stability and damage traditional African brotherhood.
Previous efforts to repair the damaged relationship crashed and burned despite high-level meetings. Sudan Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed flew to Nairobi during January for talks with President William Ruto and PCS Musalia Mudavadi. Both sides agreed to restart cooperation through joint commissions but tensions remained high after Ruto hosted RSF leader Mohamed Dagalo Hemedti. Sudan Armed Forces rejected Ruto as IGAD mediator while accusing him of harboring rebel elements. The diplomatic crisis stems from Sudan's ongoing civil war between government forces and RSF fighters.
The peace talks came after another nasty war of words erupted between the countries earlier during July. Kenya fired back hard against Sudan Armed Forces who claimed Nairobi was secretly funding and arming the RSF rebels. Government officials completely rejected allegations that Kenya serves as the main pipeline for Emirati weapons flowing to opposition fighters. Prime Cabinet Secretary office blasted Sudan for using Kenya as a scapegoat instead of fixing their internal problems. The statement warned that false accusations threaten regional stability and damage traditional African brotherhood.
Previous efforts to repair the damaged relationship crashed and burned despite high-level meetings. Sudan Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed flew to Nairobi during January for talks with President William Ruto and PCS Musalia Mudavadi. Both sides agreed to restart cooperation through joint commissions but tensions remained high after Ruto hosted RSF leader Mohamed Dagalo Hemedti. Sudan Armed Forces rejected Ruto as IGAD mediator while accusing him of harboring rebel elements. The diplomatic crisis stems from Sudan's ongoing civil war between government forces and RSF fighters.
