Sudanese Government Criticizes Kenya for Questioning Its Legitimacy

Sudan Events – Agencies

The Sudanese government has intensified its criticism of Kenya for what it described as questioning its legitimacy and continuing to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their backers, accusing Nairobi of colluding in the division of Sudan. Meanwhile, a drone targeted the airport in the city of Kassala, located in the Red Sea State in eastern Sudan, early Saturday for the first time since the war began.

In a statement released Friday evening, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Kenyan government insists on acting as a “rogue state” that does not respect the sovereignty of other nations and blatantly interferes in their internal affairs, “hosting the genocidal militias it supports.”

Kenyan Doubts

The Sudanese escalation came in response to a statement issued by the Kenyan government last week, in which it referred to the “Administration of the Sudanese Armed Forces” instead of the Government of Sudan. The Sudanese government expressed concern over what it called “inaccurate descriptions and misleading implications” in the Kenyan statement.

The Sudanese statement said: “Sudan cannot remain silent when a member state of the African Union and IGAD hosts events organized by the RSF militias to continue their genocidal agenda.”

The statement urged the Kenyan government to reconsider its approach and act in accordance with the Charters of the United Nations and the African Union, which oblige member states not to interfere in one another’s internal affairs, instead of pursuing unilateral initiatives that threaten to divide the region.

The Sudanese government reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the crisis, preserving the integrity of state institutions, and preparing the country for a sustainable democratic transition in cooperation with genuine partners who support a Sudanese-led, African-owned peace process that respects the country’s sovereignty and unity.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have deteriorated since Kenya hosted a meeting in Nairobi last February involving the RSF and some political factions. The meeting resulted in the signing of a political charter to form a parallel government in areas controlled by the RSF, in opposition to the de facto authority led by the Sudanese army based in Port Sudan.

In response, the Sudanese government withdrew its ambassador from Kenya in February and imposed economic measures, including halting imports of Kenyan tea. Sudan also submitted a memorandum to the African Union calling for action against Nairobi for its interference in Sudan’s internal affairs.

Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs rejected “the allegations made by the Sudanese military leadership” blaming Kenya for the ongoing tragic conflict in Sudan. In a statement released last Tuesday, the ministry expressed concern over a letter sent by the “Administration of the Sudanese Armed Forces” to foreign embassies accusing Kenya of interference.

The statement asserted that the Kenyan government, in coordination with regional peace efforts, had hosted meetings with warring Sudanese parties in Nairobi and elsewhere with the goal of achieving peace, maintaining that its role was neutral and rooted in its strong commitment to regional stability.

It added that meetings held by some Sudanese leaders in Nairobi had raised concerns among Sudanese authorities, who accused Kenya of supporting a government-in-exile. Kenya’s Foreign Ministry clarified that the forum held in Nairobi did not indicate endorsement of the meeting’s outcome, which reportedly called for the formation of such a government.

Kassala Airport Targeted

In a separate development, a drone targeted the airport in the eastern Sudanese city of Kassala early Saturday morning. According to local sources, the drone targeted fuel storage facilities at the airport, but no material losses were reported. This marks the first drone attack on a city in Red Sea State, which includes Port Sudan, the country’s temporary capital.

On the ground, the RSF announced on Saturday that it had taken control of the town of Al-Khuwei, a day after seizing the city of Al-Nuhud, the second largest in West Kordofan State.

In a statement on its Telegram channel, the RSF claimed it had inflicted heavy casualties and material losses on the Sudanese army and captured large quantities of weapons and ammunition.