Sudan’s army-aligned government has escalated tensions with Kenya, accusing Nairobi of facilitating weapons deliveries to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) through the United Arab Emirates. In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Sudan’s foreign ministry alleged that weapons bearing Kenyan markings were discovered in RSF caches in the capital, Khartoum.
“The army last month uncovered Kenyan-labelled arms and ammunition in the terrorist RSF militia’s weapon caches,” the statement read, further claiming that “Kenya has been one of the main conduits of the Emirati military supplies to the terrorist RSF militia.”
The accusations mark the latest twist in the ongoing war between army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, which erupted in April 2023. The brutal conflict has left tens of thousands dead and displaced over 13 million people across Sudan and neighbouring countries.
While both sides have traded accusations of receiving foreign military support, Kenya has come under fire for allegedly hosting RSF leaders and for its perceived neutrality. The Sudanese government imposed a ban on Kenyan imports earlier this year following a February meeting in Nairobi, where RSF representatives and allies signed a charter to form a rival administration.
Adding fuel to the fire, a now-deleted June 16 post by Kenyan government spokesman Isaac Mwaura stated, “Egypt and Iran back the Sudanese Armed Forces; the UAE backs RSF,” appearing to confirm Sudanese claims. Sudan’s foreign ministry cited this post, saying Kenya had “admitted” to the UAE’s role in supporting the RSF’s alleged quest to seize Sudan’s resources and gain strategic access to the Red Sea.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate. On Tuesday, World Health Organization chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned an airstrike that killed over 40 civilians in West Kordofan state. Emergency Lawyers, a volunteer group monitoring the conflict, reported that a Sudanese army drone had targeted Al-Mujlad Hospital in the region.
Despite repeated calls by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for foreign powers to halt arms shipments, external interference remains a significant factor in prolonging the devastating conflict.
