Sudan recalls ambassador to Kenya over red-carpet reception to RSF leader

PORT SUDAN – Sudan has escalated tensions with Kenya by recalling its ambassador in Nairobi, a move triggered by President William Ruto’s recent hosting of talks with a key Sudanese rebel leader.

The rift stems from Ruto’s meeting with Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemeti, the commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Hemedti, upon arrival at a Kenyan Airport in Nairobi, was accorded a red-carpet reception.

Daglo’s forces have been locked in a bitter power struggle with the regular army led by Abdelfattah al-Burhan since April last year.

This visit, part of Hemeti’s first abroad since the conflict erupted, has infuriated Burhan’s administration, which sees it as a dangerous attempt to legitimize the RSF.

Sudan’s acting Foreign Minister, Ali al-Sadiq, announced the ambassador’s recall in a statement carried by SUNA, the state news agency.

He described the move as a “protest against the official reception organized by the Kenyan government for the leader of the rebel militia.”

Al-Sadiq warned that the recall could be just the first step in a broader diplomatic recalibration with Kenya, hinting at potentially severe consequences for bilateral relations.

The Burhan-Hemeti rivalry has strained Sudan’s internal stability and cast a shadow over regional security for months.

Kenya, seeking to maintain its role as a regional peacemaker, has attempted to maintain open communication channels with both sides.

However, Nairobi’s decision to host Hemeti on a red carpet proved to be a diplomatic miscalculation, pushing Sudan’s fragile transition to democracy further towards the brink.

In a January 1^st speech, Burhan issued a stark warning: “African governments hosting visits by these killers are making themselves partners in the murder of the Sudanese people.”

The conflict, estimated by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project to have claimed over 12,190 lives and displaced millions, has reached a critical juncture.

Despite Burhan’s administration maintaining the official facade of government, the RSF’s control over Khartoum, Darfur, and large portions of Al-Jazira paints a different picture.

The power struggle between these two factions shows no signs of abating, with mediation efforts largely stalled by their deep animosity.

Sudan’s decision to recall its ambassador from Kenya raises the stakes in this internal power struggle, potentially pushing the region closer to a wider diplomatic crisis.

The international community must now urgently engage in constructive diplomacy to prevent further bloodshed and facilitate a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s internal conflict.