President William Ruto has stated that Sudan’s warring factions the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) are equally responsible for the ongoing crisis and lack the capacity to restore peace.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ruto emphasized that both groups were born from the overthrow of a people’s government and operate with a militaristic approach to governance. According to him, Sudan’s turmoil is not a security or military problem but a governance issue that requires political solutions.
“To Sudan, I hold the position that both RSF and SAF are cut from the same cloth. They are a product of an overthrow of a people’s government,” Ruto said. He added that “both of them believe in solving a problem using military means, which is not a security problem. This is a governance problem.”
Ruto also addressed allegations that Kenya has supplied arms to the RSF or facilitated secret meetings for its members in Nairobi, describing the claims as “absolutely false.” He stressed that Kenya’s democratic environment allows people to meet and express themselves freely but does not support criminal activity.
“Kenya, being a democratic country, we are often accused. DRC accused us there were people meeting in Nairobi. Sometimes I don’t even know they are meeting in Nairobi, because we are a free and democratic country,” the president said.
Highlighting Kenya’s role as a hub for dialogue, Ruto noted that journalists and civil society groups operate freely in Nairobi, creating space for peaceful discussions. He clarified that a recent meeting involving Sudanese representatives in Kenya was a civil society dialogue with religious and community leaders, not an RSF gathering.
Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to promoting peace and dialogue in the region while maintaining neutrality in Sudan’s conflict. He underlined that the country’s democratic space offers an avenue to address political and humanitarian challenges without resorting to violence.
