Various global powers have backed Sudan Armed Forces against the Rapid Support Forces, which is seen to have the tacit support from President William Ruto.
The RFS top brass led by Mohamed Hamdan Gagalo also known as Hemedti have been in Nairobi where they announced the formation of a parallel government and a new constitution.
However, the move triggered diplomatic tension between Khartoum and Nairobi with the former accusing Kenya of interfering in its internal affairs, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The matter has now taken a fresh twist with many global powers throwing their backing behind Sudanese military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Among the countries that have issued statements in favour of al-Burhan include the US, China, Russia, the UK, Turkey and Guyana.
The State Department though the African Bureau on Wednesday said it was “deeply concerned” by reports that Sudan rebels Rapid Support Forces and aligned actors had signed a “transitional constitution”
Addressing the Security Council on February 27, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Fu Cong said the move by RSF, allied political parties and armed factions to declare a parallel government risk increasing the fragmentation of Sudan.
“China reiterates its
support for the sovereignty, unity, and the territorial integrity of Sudan,”
Amb Fu said.
A day earlier, acting US Alternate Representative to the UN John Kelly also warned against the RSF move.
Kelly said the move to
establish a government in RSF-controlled territories in Sudan are unhelpful for
the cause of peace and security and risks a de facto partition of the country.
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Jim Risch has accused the Kenyan government of helping the RSF to legitimize their “genocidal rule” in Sudan.
“Last year, I led efforts in Congress to recognize RSF-led atrocities in Sudan, which have contributed to over 150k deaths, as genocide. In January, it became U.S. policy.
“Now, Kenya, a U.S. ally, is helping the RSF legitimize their genocidal rule in Sudan under the guise of peacemaking—this is an unthinkable attempt to obscure the truth and will not end the massacre,” Senator Risch said on X.
On Tuesday, RSF and allied parties under the banner of Sudan Founding Alliance said it would be seeking international recognition from domestic legitimacy.
The US in May last year designated Kenya as a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO ally, elevating its role in regional and international security.
Kenya has also been a
close security partner for the US in the Horn of Africa, and President William
Ruto has been having discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the
escalating insecurity and instability in the region.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed “deep concern” at the announcement of a political charter that expresses an intention to establish a governing authority in RSF areas of control.
“This further escalation in the conflict in Sudan deepens the fragmentation of the country and risks further entrenching the crisis. Preserving Sudan's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity remains key for a sustainable resolution of the conflict and the long-term stability of the country and the wider region,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said on February 24.
Other states from the Middle East that have sided with Sudan in defence of its sovereignty are Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
Qatar on February 28 said it was in full support for the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan.
“It [The state of Qatar]
rejects any form of interference in Sudan’s internal affairs and calls on all
parties to prioritise the supreme national interest and to prevent the country
from the risk of division,” the statement said.
Saudi Arabia earlier on Friday opposed the “illegitimate” formation of entities and parallel governments in Sudan, terming it "unlawful."
“The Foreign Ministry
expresses Saudi Arabia’s rejection of any illegitimate steps or measures taken
outside the framework of the Republic of Sudan's official institutions that may
affect its unity and do not reflect the will of its people, including the call
to form a parallel government. The Kingdom reaffirms its firm stance in
supporting the Republic of Sudan's security, stability, and territorial
integrity,” it said in a statement.
The African member states of the Security Council Algeria, Somalia and Sierra Leone have also expressed support.
Sudan Foreign Affairs ministry said it appreciates “successive international positions” rejecting threats to its sovereignty, unity and existing national legitimacy.
The ministry urged all members of the international community, regional and international organizations, particularly the African Union, to condemn this grave threat to regional peace and security and the tampering with well-established principles of international order.
“The ministry commends
the principled and strong positions expressed by Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the African member states of the Security Council:
Algeria, Somalia and Sierra Leone,” the statement read in part.
Sudan also acknowledged positions taken by Russia, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Guyana.
“These clear positions
affirm that the Kenyan Presidency’s irresponsible stance in embracing the
genocidal RSF militia, seeking to legitimize its unprecedented atrocities is
isolated both externally and internally. This, however, places Kenya in the
category of a rogue state that defies international norms,” it added.
Prof Peter Kagwanja has argued that with the engagements with RSF, Kenya is losing its shine and influence as a credible regional power.
“The diplomatic tiff with Sudan over Kenya’s decision to host RSF, a rebel group fighting the government, raises the worrying question of whether East Africa’s largest economy is falling from its regional smart power status, giving rise to a rogue power,” he argues.
He notes that junta in Sudan has openly accused Kenya of meddling in its internal affairs and violating its sovereignty.
“On February 18, the world was struck mute by Kenya’s decision to allow the rebel RSF fighting the government in Khartoum to convene in Nairobi reportedly to establish a parallel government in Sudan,” he notes, attributing it to its shift to a “rogue power”
“In a distinct African context, a string of unprincipled or dishonest diplomacy are slowly turning Kenya into a “rogue power.” Kenya as a rogue power should not be confused with America’s manipulative use of the “rogue state” to label and isolate states which resist its global hegemony. But they share one aspect: an aggressive and undiplomatic behaviour that upsets peace and stability in an existing region or the international system,” Kagwanja says.
The Kenyan government has, however, defended hosting RSF, saying it is part of the peace process.
“Rapid Support Forces (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,’’ Foreign CS Musalia Mudavadi said in February.
Geopolitical analyst and former IGAD spokesperson Nuur Sheikh said Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s call for respecting Sudan’s unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty aligns with the United Nation's efforts to uphold international law and peace.
"The African Union and its member states must support this essential move towards durable peace and stability," he opines.
