US senator criticises Kenya over Sudan peace efforts

US Senator Jim Risch has accused Kenya of aiding Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in legitimising its rule under the guise of peace talks, escalating diplomatic tensions between Washington and Nairobi.

 Risch, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he led efforts in Congress to recognise RSF-led atrocities in Sudan as genocide, a policy the US adopted in January. “Now, Kenya, a US ally, is helping the RSF legitimise their genocidal rule in Sudan under the guise of peacemaking—this is an unthinkable attempt to obscure the truth and will not end the massacre,” said Risch.

 His remarks come as the RSF signed a charter with allied political and armed groups to form a “government of peace and unity.” Sudan's army has condemned the move, calling it an attempt to create a parallel government.

 The signing, which took place in Kenya, has drawn criticism from Sudanese authorities and renewed scrutiny of President William Ruto's involvement in the process. The event followed another meeting in Nairobi earlier in the week, which was met with opposition from Sudan.

 Among the signatories of the charter are al-Hadi Idris, Ibrahim al-Mirghani and Abdelaziz al-Hilu, a rebel leader who controls vast areas in South Kordofan state. The agreement calls for a “secular, democratic, non-centralised state” with a single national army but allows armed groups to continue operating.

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Idris, a former official and leader of an armed group, said the government’s formation will be announced in Sudan in the coming days. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has seized most of Darfur and parts of Kordofan but is facing pushback from the Sudanese army in central Sudan.

 The Sudanese government has accused the United Arab Emirates of financially and militarily supporting the RSF, claims that UN experts deem credible. The UAE denies the allegations.