Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Youssef announced that his country intends to ban Kenyan flights from passing through Sudanese airspace, citing what he described as “Nairobi’s cooperation with the Rapid Support Forces.”
In statements to the Sudanese News Agency published on Thursday, Youssef said: “I believe the decision to ban Kenyan flights from passing through Sudanese airspace is underway.”
He added: “Sudan has taken clear decisions regarding Kenya’s movements and changing positions in cooperation with the militia (Rapid Support Forces) and their supporters.”
On March 13, Sudan decided to halt the import of all products from Kenya, citing Kenya’s hosting of the Rapid Support Forces and sponsoring their activities, according to Sudanese authorities.
A decision by the Sudanese Minister of Trade stated: “The import of all products from Kenya through all ports, crossings, airports, and entry points is suspended… until further notice.”
The decision came “based on the recommendation of the committee formed by the Sovereignty Council to deal with Kenya, for hosting the Rapid Support Forces militia and their allies, and sponsoring their activities and meetings, to preserve Sudan’s supreme interests, affirm its sovereignty, and protect its national security.”
Recently, the Kenyan capital Nairobi hosted a conference organized by the Rapid Support Forces in cooperation with armed movements, most notably the “Sudan People’s Liberation Movement” led by Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu, along with other political and civil forces, with the aim of announcing the formation of a “parallel government” in Sudan, which was met with strong condemnation from the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bashir Tabiq, an advisor to the commander of the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, recently announced the signing of the “New Sudan Constitution,” describing it as “a new birth for the establishment of the new Sudanese state and the formation of a peace government.”
Since April 15, 2023, violent and widespread clashes have continued between the Sudanese army forces and the Rapid Support Forces in various regions of Sudan, with each side attempting to control vital sites and headquarters.
Despite Arab, African, and international mediation attempts to cease fire, they have not succeeded in reaching a permanent agreement to stop the fighting.
The differences between the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), came to light after the signing of the “Framework Agreement,” which was supposed to pave the way for the transitional period and acknowledge the army’s exit from political work and the handover of power to civilians.
Dagalo accused the army of “planning to stay in power and not committing to handing over governance,” while the army considered the movements of the Rapid Support Forces as “rebellion against the state.”
