Explainer: Sudan's RSF and its ties to Kenya

Kenya is once again at the center of Sudan’s deepening conflict, facing accusations of supporting the country’s rebel militia.

On Tuesday, February 18, 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.

It was the second time the rebel group postponed the announcement of what it called the ‘Political Charter for the Government of Peace and Unity.’

Who are the RSF?

The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo—commonly known as Hemedti—has been embroiled in a power struggle with Sudanese army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan since the country’s coup in 2021. 

Their dispute centers on leadership, the transition to civilian rule, and a proposed merger of the RSF into the national army.

Originally, the RSF was formed in 2013 by then President Omar al-Bashir, but its roots trace back to the notorious Janjaweed militia, active during the 2003-2005 Darfur conflict. 

The Janjaweed, armed by Bashir, was accused of committing atrocities against black African insurgents.

Hemedti emerged as a key player in 2007 when he protested against the government’s failure to compensate his fighters for their role in Darfur. 

He later secured back pay, cash payments, and a promotion to brigadier general. Bashir then placed the RSF under the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).

Over time, Hemedti expanded his influence, deploying RSF fighters in conflicts beyond Sudan, including in Yemen and Libya.

Sudan’s latest conflict erupted in April 2023, escalating into a violent struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), loyal to Burhan, and the RSF, led by Hemedti.

The United Nations has accused both factions of committing war crimes, including attacks on residential areas, sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, torture, and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Kenya’s fractured diplomatic ties

Kenya’s role in the conflict has put it in direct diplomatic confrontation with Khartoum, as Nairobi struggles to navigate the volatile landscape.

In June 2023, Kenya was appointed chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) quartet tasked with resolving the Sudanese crisis. 

However, Sudan rejected President William Ruto’s leadership of the mediation team, accusing Kenya of bias and instead backing South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.

Ruto further strained relations in January 2024 when he hosted RSF leader Hemedti in Nairobi, months after the war began. 

He later posted on X that they had discussed “ending the conflict in Sudan through dialogue.”

Khartoum responded swiftly, recalling its ambassador from Nairobi in protest. 

Sudan’s foreign ministry condemned Kenya’s reception of what it called the “leader of the rebel militia.”

Adding to the tensions, Ruto was spotted in Juba late last year alongside RSF Deputy Commander Abdulrahim Dagalo, further fueling speculation about Kenya’s stance. 

However, in early 2024, Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadiq claimed Kenya had “reconsidered its position” on the conflict, suggesting Nairobi had distanced itself from the RSF.

"Nairobi has reconsidered its position towards Sudan based on the new developments in the war, the idea of the RSF taking power in the country is over," al-Sadiq said.

Kenya’s strained relations with Sudan mirror its recent diplomatic blunders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In 2023, Ruto hosted M23 rebels in Nairobi, prompting the DRC to recall its envoys from Kenya and Tanzania for consultations. 

DRC’s Foreign Ministry summoned Kenya’s ambassador to explain how the rebels were allowed to announce the alliance in the country. “John Nyakeru was summoned to provide explanations to the Deputy Prime Minister Peter Kazadi on the launch in Nairobi of a political-military coalition,” the ministry’s spokesperson Alain Tshibanda said. 

Foreign policy expert Peter Kagwanja warns that hosting armed groups carries significant geopolitical risks.

“Being discreet about indiscretions is an age-old wisdom Kenya needs to take to heart. Certainly, it is a dark day for our diplomacy. The option of Kenya as a ‘rogue state’ has never been on our diplomatic cards. It never featured in our wildest imaginations as an alternative,” said Kagwanja.

Meanwhile, Sudan’s civil war has left a devastating toll, with more than 60,000 people killed and millions displaced.