Sudan is now appealing to the African Union and the United Nations to take unspecified action against Kenya for endorsing the formation of a parallel government by the Rapid Support Forces against the UN Charter.
In a letter sent to the AU and UN on February 24, the Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office of the Spokesperson and Media Directorate said that the Kenyan move is meant to facilitate FSF to directly procure weapons from sponsors through Kenya.
“The AU, the UN, and all international and regional organisations have to fulfil their responsibilities in confronting this grave threat to regional peace and security, the undermining of the foundations of the contemporary international order, the encouragement of state dismemberment in Africa, and violations of sovereignty.],” the letter said.
The ministry accused the Kenya government—following public endorsement by the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi—of endorsing the dismemberment of Sudan through the Charter that calls for “the right to self-determination for Sudanese “peoples and regions.”
The letter says that the government of Sudan will take all necessary measures to respond to this irresponsible and hostile conduct, to what it termed as a blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and posing a grave threat to regional peace and security.
“The Kenyan presidency’s insistence on this dangerous course of action demonstrates its disregard for international law, regional peace and security, obligations to prevent genocide and impunity, and the fight against terrorism. It also constitutes a serious affront to Kenya’s national interests in its relations with Sudan, particularly in vital trade and economic sectors,” the letter said.
The RSF and 23 other entities signed a charter on February 22 in Nairobi to establish a parallel government in areas under their control, raising fears of further division in the war-torn country.
Signatories included Fadlallah Burma Nasir, head of the National Umma Party; RSF commander Abdelrahim Dagalo; and Joseph Tuka, deputy chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
Other signatories included Hadi Idris, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council (SLM-TC); Al-Tahir Hajar, head of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces; Suleiman Sandal, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM); and Haroun Medeikher, head of the United Civilian Forces “Qimam”. Sudanese wildlife safaris
Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi signed the charter representing independent figures, while Alaa El Din Nugud signed on behalf of the Coordination of Trade Unions and Professionals.
Other representatives included Osama Saeed of the opposition Beja Congress, Mabrouk Mubarak Salim of the Free Lions Party, and Abu al-Qasim Imam of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Second Revolution.
Mr Mudavadi argued that the move by RSF is to enable other conflicting parties to come to the table because Kenya has a long history of providing platforms for peace negotiations without taking sides, giving examples of Somalia peace talks of 1994 and the 2005 Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
But Sudan maintains that it is an act of “aggression”, forcing Khartoum to recall its Ambassador, Kamal Gubara and threaten to stop importing tea from Kenya worth $37 million annually.
Sudan is calling on the AU and the UN to fulfil their responsibilities in “confronting this grave threat to regional peace and security, the undermining of the foundations of the contemporary international order, the encouragement of state dismemberment in Africa, and violations of sovereignty”.
Khartoum maintains that such an arrangement is meant to limit damage to the image of the militia’s regional sponsor that will transact weapons purchases through Kenya. Sudan has continuously accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting RSF through cash and weapons—a charge the UAE has denied.
