Diplomatic relations between Kenya and Sudan deteriorated after a group of Sudanese opposition parties, led by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and civil administration leaders, announced plans to form a parallel government from Nairobi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenya\u2019s decision to host the RSF in Nairobi on February 18, 2025, raised concerns about its neutrality in the Sudan conflict, sparking a diplomatic confrontation with Khartoum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sudan accused Kenya of hostility and violating principles of good neighbourliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consequently, Khartoum recalled its ambassador to Nairobi in protest and banned imports from Kenya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Hosting leaders of the terrorist RSF militia and allowing them to conduct political and propaganda activities constitutes an endorsement of and complicity in these heinous crimes,” the Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Equally, this action by the Kenyan government not only violates the principles of good neighbourliness but also contravenes the pledges Kenya has made at the highest levels not to allow hostile activities against Sudan to be carried out on its soil.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenya defended the decision to host RSF, saying it was part of the mediation efforts to end the Sudan conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHosting the RSF was in line with Kenya\u2019s role in peace negotiations,\u201d Kenya\u2019s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe tabling of a roadmap and proposed leadership by the RSF and Sudanese civilian groups in Nairobi is consistent with Kenya\u2019s role in peace negotiations, which requires it to provide non-partisan platforms for conflict parties to seek resolutions,\u201d Mudavadi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tensions between the two countries further escalated in June 2025, after Sudan accused Kenya of aiding RSF in the ongoing conflict that has left more than 24,000 dead and displaced millions, according to the United Nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Standard reports that Sudan accused Kenya of supplying weapons to RSF, worsening regional stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the former Kenyan Government spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, denied claims of fueling the Sudan conflict, saying that Nairobi\u2019s involvement was purely diplomatic, focusing on peaceful mediation between the Sudan Armed Forces and the RSF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKenya is not an architect of the Sudan conflict. We are committed to fostering dialogue through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) chaired by President William Ruto,\u201d Mr Mwaura said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The diplomatic dispute had a direct impact on Kenya’s tea industry, with Sudan historically serving as an important destination for the produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sudan banned Kenyan tea and coffee from its territory in protest against President William Ruto’s move to play host to RSF in Nairobi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On March 11, 2025, Sudan\u2019s Ministry of Trade announced a suspension of all imports from Kenya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The import of all products coming from the State of Kenya through all ports, crossings, airports and outlets is suspended, effective from this date until further notice,” Acting Trade Minister Omar Mohamed said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sudan ban came at a time when tea worth more than US$24 million (Sh3.1 billion) was already in transit or awaiting shipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Standard reports that the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), which runs the Mombasa Tea Auction, said 27 tonnes of tea were stuck at sea, in warehouses, and at the port of Sudan following the ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EATTA Chairman Arthur Sewe said it would require at least 30 days to clear all the 207 containers of tea destined for Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The Sudan ban is a challenge. We appeal to the government for a one-month export window to clear tea in the warehouses and those that have reached the port of Sudan,” said Sewe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenya got a temporary relief after tea exporters were allowed to clear a consignment of tea that had already arrived in Sudan before the trade ban was imposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EATTA confirmed that Sudan permitted the clearance of 207 containers of tea, each carrying 400 bags, which were stuck at Port Sudan for over three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is a relief after Kenya and Sudan allowed us to clear the consignment, but back home, we have stockpiles at the port of Mombasa and at different warehouses as we cannot sell the stock to the country due to the existing ban,\u201d EATTA managing director George Omuga told Eastleigh Voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Khartoum termed the decision to allow the Kenyan tea a temporary administrative step, not a change of policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the East African, Sudan had been one of Kenya’s largest buyers of black tea, importing about 35 million kilogrammes annually, valued at approximately $69 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSudan primarily imports specific tea grades that are not easily absorbed by other markets. The Mombasa Tea Auction is ongoing, but without Sudanese special tea,\u201d Omuga said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sudan is ranked among the top five markets for the Mombasa-based tea auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other top markets are Egypt, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sudan ban on Kenyan tea exports has hit hard the farmers and businesses, especially Mombasa\u2019s economy, which significantly benefits from the commercial activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Standard reports that for exports to Sudan, all value addition is done in Mombasa and the sub-sector employs more than 1,000 people daily, mostly involved in sorting and packing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About 25 million kilogrammes, or 95 per cent, of all fully packaged teas exported from Kenya go directly to Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The entire value chain also creates demand for premises for warehousing and processing in Mombasa and the logistics tied to the subsector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This has prompted Kenya and Sudan to move to repair trade relations, which have suffered significant losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, Kenyan political leaders and officials appealed to Sudan to reopen its market to Kenyan tea. Sudan has indicated a willingness to reconsider the restrictions following talks between Sudan\u2019s Ambassador to Kenya Kamal Gubara and EATTA leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka appealed to the Government of Sudan to lift its ban on Kenyan tea imports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis morning, I visited the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Nairobi to personally present a plea to the Government of Sudan for the lifting of the ban on Kenyan tea imports,\u201d Kalonzo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kalonzo noted that more than 3.44 million kilogrammes of tea, valued at over US$10.3 million (Sh129 million), were still being held in warehouses in Mombasa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis has led to substantial losses for exporters, depressed auction prices, and ultimately reduced the earnings of Kenyan tea farmers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kenyan Diaspora Media reports that Kenya\u2019s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing\u2019Oei held consultations with Sudanese Ambassador to Kenya, Gubara, to restore bilateral relations between the two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sing\u2019Oei, in a post on X, said the discussions focused on bilateral relations, trade disruptions and the humanitarian situation in Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary reaffirmed Kenya\u2019s support for an \u201cinclusive, civilian-led political process\u201d in Sudan anchored in the frameworks of the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sing\u2019Oei said the two sides agreed on the need for a joint task force to serve as a mechanism for addressing emerging issues between Kenya and Sudan, to address diplomatic grievances while restoring economic ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than a year after the ban came into force, tea specially blended and branded for the Sudanese market remains stuck in Kenyan warehouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The disruption of the Sudan market has forced Kenyan tea exporters to find alternative markets, including China and South Africa. The Kenyan government\u2019s efforts to expand the tea market received a boost following the launch of the China-Kenya Tea Trade Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Agriculture Ministry was optimistic that the launch would positively change Kenya’s tea market share in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenya\u2019s efforts to reduce the tea sector\u2019s exposure to shocks in traditional export markets got a major boost after South Africa lifted the suspended duties on Kenyan tea, coffee and spices that were imposed in November 2025, granting the products market access under the SACU tariff offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Kenya\u2019s Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the announcement was made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Kenya\u2013South Africa Business Forum, on the sidelines of the State Visit by President Ruto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa imposed the duties in retaliation after Kenya introduced levies on iron rods and steel bars from South Africa through the Tax Amendments Act of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Al Jazeera, fighting in Sudan first broke out in April 2023 after RSF leader Hemedti and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of SAF fell out. The two leaders participated in a coup that ended a transitional government that included civilians, but a subsequent power struggle ended their alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kenyan Foreign Policy reports that General Burhan is seeking to reassert authoritarian control following Sudan\u2019s transition to civilian rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, Hemedti and his RSF have positioned themselves as defenders of Sudanese civilians. The RSF has expressed a willingness to negotiate and a commitment to a transition towards civilian governance, a vision that resonates with the Sudanese people, who are demanding an end to military rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the UN has accused the RSF of waging a \u201chorrific\u201d campaign against the sedentary \u201cnon-Arab\u201d Masalit people in West Darfur, while the United States declared that the RSF was committing a \u201cgenocide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SAF actions have also attracted backlash. Reuters reports General Burhan of the SAF was sanctioned in January 2025 by the US, over accusations of choosing war over negotiations to bring an end to the conflict that has killed thousands of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), on January 7, 2025, the US government sanctioned RSF leader Hemedti for his role in destabilising Sudan and obstructing its democratic transition. Earlier, on September 6, 2023, the Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Hemedti\u2019s brother, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, for leading the RSF, whose members have committed atrocities, including massacres, ethnic killings, and sexual violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KHRC declared Kenya\u2019s decision to host the RSF in Nairobi to form a parallel government a grave violation of its international obligations, including the UN Charter, the AU Constitutive Act, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The KHRC regretted that at the time the RSF convened in Nairobi, the militia was attacking internally displaced persons camps and killing more than 433 civilians, including women and children, in a three-day assault in Southern White Nile State near the town of al-Gitaina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RSF was formed in 2013 by former President Omar al-Bashir and traces its roots to the Janjaweed militia that perpetrated the Darfur conflict between 2003 and 2005. The Janjaweed militia grew and was made into the RSF in 2013, with Hemedti emerging as a dominant force after protesting the government\u2019s failure to compensate his fighters in the Darfur war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2017, a law was passed legitimising the RSF as an independent security force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In April 2019, the RSF participated in a military coup that removed al-Bashir after months of demonstrations against his 30-year rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In October 2021, the RSF was involved in another coup with the army, halting the transition to a democratically elected government. The power struggle between the SAF and the paramilitary RSF continues to devastate Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SAF has recaptured Khartoum, but the RSF controls much of Darfur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the strained relations between Kenya and Sudan, Nairobi has been instrumental in shaping the Sudan peace efforts. Kenya was a key mediator in peace talks between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People\u2019s Liberation Movement\/Army (SPLM\/A).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenya spearheaded the Machakos Protocol agreement and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which led to the formation of South Sudan. The Standard reports that Kenya is championing dialogue through IGAD chaired by President Ruto. However, Sudan has rejected President Ruto\u2019s leadership of the process over claims of bias following his dalliance with the RSF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January 2024, Ruto hosted Hemedti, who was on a regional tour and had also been welcomed in Uganda and Ethiopia, to the chagrin of the SAF government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In November 2024, President Ruto travelled to Juba, South Sudan, for a state visit and on the presidential delegation was Hemedti\u2019s brother and RSF Deputy Commander Dagalo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Ruto\u2019s actions dealt a blow to long-standing relations between Kenya and Sudan, forcing leaders to step up efforts to mend the bilateral ties. The Kenyan government made a formal appeal to Sudan to lift the ban on tea, which has left the produce stranded in warehouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khartoum has expressed willingness to negotiate and iron out the issues that soured relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will pursue the talks at the highest levels to facilitate trade between the two countries,\u201d said Sudan ambassador to Kenya Gubara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reports also suggest that Sudan purchased specially blended tea worth $70 million annually, and the ban on Kenyan imports has dealt a severe blow to farmers’ earnings, exporters and auction prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ongoing diplomatic engagement between Kenya and Sudan is critical in removing trade barriers, restoring economic cooperation and regional stability. The proposed joint task force and high-level consultations provide a mechanism for addressing diplomatic grievances and emerging issues between Kenya and Sudan.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Diplomatic relations between Kenya and Sudan deteriorated after a group of Sudanese opposition parties, led by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and civil administration leaders, announced plans to form a parallel government from Nairobi. Kenya\u2019s decision to host the RSF in Nairobi on February 18, 2025, raised concerns about its neutrality in the Sudan conflict, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":125,"featured_media":8566,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"saved_in_kubio":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-governance","category-security"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/125"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8534"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8564,"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8534\/revisions\/8564"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openafricantribune.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}