Kenya is yet again wind-swept in a boisterous regional conflict with Sudan after it permitted a Sudanese militia – the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to hold a meeting in Nairobi to launch a parallel government in Khartoum.

Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs now says that by hosting the group, Kenya is endorsing a grouping which it claims has presided over massacre of civilian on ethnic basis, attacking the IDP camps, and commit acts of rape.
RSF, one of the warring factions has been facing accusations of massacring more than 200 unarmed civilians, kidnappings, enforced disappearances and property looting in the protracted Sudan war.

Disregarding obligations
The forces’ meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday to plan for the launch of what it termed as a “Government of Peace and Unity” has elicited sharp criticism with the Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affair not vowing to take action against Kenya for disregarding its obligations under the international law.

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.

“Given that the stated objective of this agreement is to establish a parallel government on part of Sudanese territory, this move promotes the dismembering of African states, violates their sovereignty, and interferes in their internal affairs. This is, therefore, a clear breach of the UN Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the established principles of the contemporary international order,” added Sudan in the statement.

Diplomatic rows
The move that has already triggered a fresh diplomatic row with the Port Sudan-based military regime comes at a time when Kenya is already in the spotlight over her ties with neighboring countries.

Sudan insists that hosting leaders of the RFS militia and allowing them to conduct political and propaganda activities- while they continue to perpetrate genocide, massacre civilians on an ethnic basis, attack IDP camps, and commit acts of rape constitutes an endorsement of and complicity in the heinous crimes.

“Equally, this action by the Kenyan government not only violates the principles of good neighborliness but also contravenes the pledges Kenya has made at the highest levels not to allow hostile activities against Sudan to be carried out on its soil. It is, therefore, tantamount to an act of hostility against the entire Sudanese people,” added Sudan.

Calling on the international community to condemn the hostility by Kenya, Sudan noted that Kenya’s collaboration with RSF will have no impact on the ground.

It vowed that the Sudanese Armed Forces, along with joint and supporting forces-backed by the Sudanese people will remain resolute in their determination to liberate every inch of Sudanese territory desecrated by RSF and its foreign mercenaries.

In January, President William Ruto is reported to have met Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssif from which the two resolved that Kenya will not to recognize any government the RSF intends to announce in areas under its control.
Less than a month later, President Ruto is battling accusations of reneging on Kenya’s obligations under international low by allowing the gathering, which involved the RSF, which Sudan holds responsible for ongoing genocide.