The Republic of Sudan has imposed a ban on all imports from Kenya following the hosting of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) by the latter in Nairobi.
This comes days after Sudan’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin in February said that the government would take escalatory measures against Kenya for its relations with RSF.
On Thursday, March 13, the war-torn country suspended all imports from Kenya through all entry ports, including ports and airports, according to a copy of a decree by the Sudan’s Ministry of Trade and Supply.
The decision was arrived at following a Cabinet resolution that sought to punish Kenya for facilitating RSF activities and subsequently escalating tensions in the country, with the Sudanese government attributing the Cabinet decision to protecting its national interests and security concerns.
“”The following decision was issued: Suspension of all the imports of all products coming from the State of Kenya is suspended through all ports, crossings, airports and outlets, effective from this date until further notice. All concerned parties shall implement the decision,” said the decree.
Sudan threat to ban goods from Kenya
While speaking on February 24, Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin had accused Kenya of supporting the RSF, which has been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since mid-April 2023, adding that the government would take escalatory measures against the East African nation.
He further explained that Kenya’s decision to allow RSF and its allies to sign a founding charter for the formation of a parallel government in Nairobi was a hostile act and blatant interference in the internal affairs of Sudan.
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Al-Amin emphasized that the move violates all international charters and agreements, including those of the United Nations, the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
At the same time, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry Undersecretary said the government would involve AU and other organizations to retaliate against Kenya for taking a position against the war-torn country.
“We will submit a memorandum to the African Union and other international organizations, and we have escalatory measures against Kenya for its hostile positions toward Sudan,” he said.
The RSF and its allied political and armed groups on February 22 signed “a political charter” in Nairobi expressing intention to form a “parallel government” in Sudan.
Two days later, the Sudanese government slammed Kenya for supporting the paramilitary group and called the hosting of the signing ceremony “a hostile act and blatant interference in Sudan’s internal affairs” and a violation of all international charters and agreements.
The Kenyan Foreign Ministry through Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi however went on to defend the hosting of the RSF event, saying it was “consistent with Kenya’s role in peace negotiations, which requires it to provide non-partisan platforms for conflict parties to seek resolutions.”
RSF signs transitional constitution
Days later on Tuesday, March 4, RSF and allied groups signed a transitional constitution for Sudan, taking them a step closer to setting up a parallel government after the charter signing which escalated the diplomatic row between Kenya and Sudan.
Also Read: Sudan to Ban Imports from Kenya as Tensions Escalate
The new constitution which formally establishes a government and maps out what it describes as a federal, secular state, split into eight regions is designed to replace a constitution signed after the army and RSF ousted long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir during an uprising in 2019.
It also provides for a bill of basic rights, giving regions the right to self-determination should certain conditions not be met, and calls for a single national army, with the signatories as the “nucleus”.
AU responds
The African Union has since warned that the signing of the constitution by RSF carries a huge risk of partitioning the country.
In a communique issued on Wednesday, March 12, the AU, through its Peace and Security Council (PSC), called on all its member states not to recognize any parallel government seeking to partition and govern any part of the territory of Sudan or its institutions, a day after the council held a meeting on the situation in the country.
“Council called on all AU Member States and the international community not to recognize any parallel government or entity seeking to partition and govern any part of the territory of the Republic of Sudan or its institutions,” read part of the communique.
Further, the council called on all its member states and the international community to refrain from recognizing and/or providing support or assistance to any armed or political group toward the establishment of a parallel government or state entity in the Republic of Sudan.
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