Kenyan President William Ruto has strongly defended Kenya’s position on the ongoing war in Sudan, rejecting accusations that Nairobi is backing the Rapid Support Forces and insisting that Kenya’s role remains focused on peace mediation and dialogue between the warring sides.
Speaking during an interview with France 24 after the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Ruto addressed growing regional criticism over Kenya’s relationship with RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, whose previous visits to Kenya sparked accusations from the Sudanese government that Nairobi was becoming too close to the paramilitary movement fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by Hemedti, Kenya has repeatedly found itself under diplomatic pressure from both sides. Critics, especially officials aligned with Sudan’s military government, have questioned why RSF officials were received in Nairobi and whether Kenya’s mediation efforts were genuinely neutral.
The controversy intensified after senior RSF figures held meetings in Kenya, with some Sudanese political actors accusing Nairobi of legitimizing the paramilitary group at a time when the conflict was devastating Sudan. Kenya, however, has consistently maintained that engaging all parties is necessary if any meaningful peace process is to succeed.
During the interview, President Ruto dismissed the allegations outright and denied that Kenya was supporting the RSF militarily, politically, or diplomatically.
“These are allegations made left, right and centre. They have no basis.”
Ruto insisted that Kenya has no interest in taking sides in Sudan’s internal conflict and said the country’s only objective is to help restore stability in the Horn of Africa region.
The Kenyan president also delivered one of his strongest public criticisms yet of both sides fighting in Sudan, blaming the rival military leaders for plunging the country into destruction, mass displacement, and a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
“Both SAF and RSF have taken Sudan to the dogs.”
The remarks reflected Kenya’s growing frustration with the continued conflict, which has left thousands dead and forced millions of Sudanese civilians to flee their homes. The war has also destabilized neighboring countries and increased regional security concerns across East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
Ruto argued that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces nor the RSF could achieve a lasting solution through military confrontation, saying the future of Sudan depends on dialogue and political settlement rather than battlefield victories.
Kenya has in recent years positioned itself as a regional mediator in several African conflicts, including in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan. Nairobi has hosted diplomatic talks, consultations, and meetings involving Sudanese political actors and armed groups as part of attempts to push for a negotiated settlement.
However, the Kenyan government’s engagement with RSF-linked figures has continued to fuel suspicion from Sudan’s military leadership, which views the paramilitary group as a rebellion against the state. Sudanese authorities have at times openly criticized Kenya’s diplomatic approach, accusing Nairobi of undermining Sudan’s sovereignty.
Despite the criticism, Ruto defended Kenya’s mediation efforts during the France 24 interview, saying Nairobi remains committed to peace and inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders in Sudan’s crisis. According to the president, excluding one side from negotiations would only prolong the war and deepen the suffering of civilians trapped in the conflict.
The war in Sudan has become one of Africa’s worst humanitarian disasters, with international organizations warning of worsening famine, ethnic violence, and the collapse of critical state institutions. Regional leaders and global powers have repeatedly called for a ceasefire, but fighting between the SAF and RSF has continued across several parts of the country.
Ruto’s comments are likely to reignite debate over Kenya’s role in the Sudan peace process, especially at a time when tensions remain high between Sudan’s military authorities and countries attempting to mediate the conflict.