President William Ruto’s government was on February 20, 2025, under intense pressure from the international community over her relationship with Sudan rebel group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a day that President William Ruto chaired a crisis meeting at State House over the matter.

As a result of the pressure, sources told the People Daily last evening, the event to unveil a breakaway government from Nairobi was put on hold.

In response to the RSF Summit, Sudan last evening recalled its ambassador to Kenya Kamal Jubarra.

Sources also told divulged that Ruto held a crisis meeting at State House with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, National Intelligence Service Director General Noordin Haji whom he is reported to put to task over the meeting.

Management summoned

The management of the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) is also said to have been summoned to explain how the Sudan rebel group was allowed to hold a public meeting at the facility.

Sources privy to the meeting intimated to the People Daily that President Ruto believed not to have been aware of the rebels’ plans, is said to have hit the roof, questioning his top brass how they had allowed an incident that has left the country with an egg on its face on the international arena.

The National Assembly has also waded into the issue, with the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech summoning Foreign Affairs minority honchos to explain the circumstances under which RSF is operating in the country.

The team is expected before the committee today.

Earlier in the day, RSF was forced to reschedule several times a press conference it had planned to hold jointly with the various Armed Struggle Movements, political, civil and social forces.

Presser cancelled

The press briefing had on Wednesday been scheduled for Radisson Blu at 11.30 before it was pushed to Arboretum at 1:30 pm and then pushed to 4.30 at JW Marriott hotel Chiromo Lane, Westlands, before being cancelled indefinitely.

Sources say the press conference was supposed to outline today’s scheduled unveiling of the breakaway government as well as the reunion of various militias fighting against the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) government under Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

It said the decision to put on hold the unveiling of the breakaway government was done by President Ruto’s government due to intense pressure from the United States of America, United Kingdom and other European Union governments that have imposed sanctions on RSF leaders Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, his deputy Abdul Rahim Dagalo and others.

On Wednesday, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi defended the Kenya government’s recent decision to host the Sudan’s paramilitary group.

Mudavadi said Kenya’s actions were in line with its broader role in peace negotiations and its commitment to supporting Sudan in finding a resolution to its ongoing political crisis.

“We note that this is not the firs time groups in Sudan have sought solutions to their crisis by leveraging the good offices of neighbouring countries. Indeed, in January 2024, parties and stakeholders to the Sudanese conflict met in a neighbouring country to chart a way forward on inclusive dialogue and return to civilian rule,” said Mudavadi.

“RSF and Sudanese civilian groups’ tabling of a roadmap and proposed leadership in Nairobi is compatible with Kenya’s role in peace negotiation which enjoins her to provide non-partisan platforms to conflict parties to seek resolutions,” he added.

On the same day, Sudan government had slammed Kenya’s move, describing it as “criminally irresponsible.”

The foreign ministry said in a statement that the event contradicted Kenya’s commitments at the highest level not to allow hostile activities against Sudan on its territory and constituted a declaration of hostility against the Sudanese people.

“The ministry of foreign affairs regrets the Kenyan government’s disregard for its obligations under international law, the charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Convention on the Prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide by hosting the event of signing the so-called political agreement between the terrorist Janjaweed militia- responsible for ongoing acts of genocide in Sudan – and its affiliated individuals and groups,” the ministry said in a letter to newsrooms.

RSF leaders who held their first political rally inside the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Amphitheatre on Tuesday said that the event marked the beginning of a three-day engagement that would culminate into the major announcement on 21st February 2025.

”The programme will run in the course of three or four days until the 21st of February, where we will have the final session. We will present to all of you, and to the world, the new political charter and the constitutional document,” RSF official Ezzedin Al Safi told their supporters at KICC.

On Tuesday when RSF was holding a political rally at KICC, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) raised concern over escalating rights abuses in Sudan, warning that impunity is driving violations as fighting spreads and more armed groups become involved.

“The continued and deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as summary executions, sexual violence and other violations and abuses, underscore the utter failure by both parties to respect the rules and principles of international humanitarian and human rights law,” said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Some of these acts may amount to war crimes. They must be investigated promptly and independently, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice.”

The UN agency called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expand the arms embargo to cover the entire Sudan, not just the region of Darfur.

According to OHCHR, nearly 25 million people are suffering from acute levels of hunger as food security and healthcare deteriorate in Sudan. Less than a quarter of Sudan’s health facilities are functioning in areas worst hit by fighting.

There has been widespread use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, with 120 documented incidents affecting at least 203 victims. “The persistent use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sudan is deeply shocking,” High Commissioner Türk said.

“Urgent steps must be taken by the parties to put an end to it, to hold those responsible to account and provide redress for survivors,” he stated.

RSF has been at war with The Sudanese army since mid-April 2023 which has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 14 million, according to the United Nations (UN).

Led by Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu, leader of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army heaped praise on President William Ruto for giving them a safe space where they will chart the way forward for their country.