Kenya has yet again sparked another diplomatic spat with Sudan after reports emerged that it was planning to host the neighbouring country’s Janjaweed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its affiliates in Nairobi for a second conference.

Sudan, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has raised concerns over the reports, faulting Kenya for the move amid RSF’s ongoing attacks on the Zamzam camp for IDPs, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, including women and children.

In a statement issued through social media on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Sudan said that it was aware of the reports that Kenya will host a second conference for the RSF terrorist militia and its affiliates in the coming days.

Sudan expressed concerns that the upcoming conference follows previous meetings sponsored by the Kenyan presidency in February 2025, which sought to declare a parallel government for the RSF and its affiliates.

“While the Janjaweed RSF militia escalates its campaign of genocide against specific ethnic groups in Darfur—exemplified by its ongoing attack on the Zamzam camp for IDPs, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, including women and children—and while the militia continues to target vital civilian facilities across the country, reports are emerging that Kenya will host a second conference for the RSF terrorist militia and its affiliates in the coming days. This follows previous meetings sponsored by the Kenyan presidency in February of this year, which sought to declare a so-called “parallel government” for the genocidal militia and its followers,” the statement read in part.

Sudan condemns Kenya

Sudan further faulted Kenya for planning to host such a meeting despite the entire international community condemning the first conference that was hosted at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

“The entire international community has condemned this move. The United Nations Security Council expressed grave concern over it and its potential to fuel the flames of war in Sudan, threatening its national unity and territorial integrity. Similarly, the African Union Peace and Security Council strongly and unequivocally condemned it in a press statement dated March 11, 2025, calling on AU member states and the broader international community to refrain from providing any assistance or support to armed or political groups seeking to establish a parallel government or state in Sudan,” Sudan stated.

Sudan went ahead to warn that Kenya’s continued support of RSF demonstrates a disregard for international legitimacy and the African Union Peace and Security Council. According to Sudan, the move also poses a serious threat to regional security, the sovereignty of African nations, and social stability within them.

Sudan appeals for help

The neighbouring country has now called on the international community to condemn what it has termed as irresponsible conduct, which it says violates international law, the UN Charter, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

“The Kenyan government’s insistence on continuing to support the terrorist militia and harbour its activities demonstrates a disregard for international legitimacy and the African Union Peace and Security Council. It also poses a serious threat to regional security, the sovereignty of African nations, and social stability within them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to condemn this irresponsible conduct, which violates international law, the UN Charter, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union,” the statement read.

The Republic of Sudan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Office of the Spokesperson Media Directorate

Press Statement

While the Janjaweed RSF militia escalates its campaign of genocide against specific ethnic groups in Darfur—exemplified by its ongoing attack on the Zamzam camp for…

— وزارة خارجية جمهورية السودان 🇸🇩 (@MofaSudan) April 13, 2025

This comes after more than 16 people were killed and 25 others injured in an artillery shelling on Thursday, April 10, 2025, by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a displacement camp in western Sudan, according to the non-governmental organization the Sudanese Doctors Network.

It said the RSF launched a deliberate artillery strike on Abu Shouk displacement camp in El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur State.

Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has claimed at least 29,683 lives, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a crisis monitoring group cited by the United Nations.

The conflict has displaced over 15 million people, both inside and outside Sudan, according to estimates from the International Organization for Migration.