Sudan has imposed a ban on all imports from Kenya following the latter’s hosting of activities related to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in late February.
A decree issued by Sudan’s Acting Minister of Trade and Supplies, Omar Ahmed Mohamed Ali, stated, “The import of all products from Kenya via all ports, crossings, airports, and entry points is suspended starting from this date until further notice.”
On February 22, the RSF and its allied political and armed groups signed a “political charter” in Nairobi, outlining plans to form a “parallel government” in Sudan.
Following the meeting, the Sudanese government criticized Kenya for supporting the RSF, accusing it of a “hostile act” and “blatant interference” in Sudan’s internal affairs, describing it as a violation of international charters and agreements.
In response, Kenya’s Foreign Ministry defended its role, explaining that hosting the RSF event was in line with Kenya’s commitment to peace negotiations and offering a neutral platform for conflict parties to seek resolutions.
Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF since mid-April 2023, with at least 29,683 lives lost, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a crisis monitoring organization.
