Civil Society Statement On Kenya Govt's Involvement In Sudan Conflict

A recent exposé by the Nation Media Group and Bellingcat has confirmed Kenya’s deep involvement in the conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

The exposé, following several months of undercover investigations, resulted in the discovery of Kenyan-labelled crates of ammunition inside an alleged RSF depot close to the recently recaptured Sudanese capital Khartoum. The evidence provides compelling reasons to believe that Kenya may actively be threatening the peace, security and stability of the Republic of Sudan, risking the protection of civilians within Sudan, and undermining regional peace efforts.

RSF has been implicated in the commission of serious atrocities, including mass murders, ethnic killings, sexual violence, and the displacement of over 1 million Sudanese in the ongoing conflict. Yet, Kenyan authorities have on numerous occasions hosted RSF leaders, with the latest incident being on April 14, 2025.

On this specific occasion, with the support of the Kenyan government, RSF convened in Nairobi to form a parallel government. This action by the Kenyan authorities culminated in a breakdown of trade and diplomatic relations between Sudan and Kenya and continues to undermine regional efforts towards justice and accountability and resolve the conflict in Sudan, which affects stability in the Horn of Africa.

Several reports by civil society and the media have raised questions about Kenya’s involvement in the conflict in Sudan. A recent report by the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan found reasonable grounds to believe that the RSF and its allied militias committed war crimes, including rape, sexual slavery, pillage, forced displacement of civilians, and the recruitment of children under 15 years old for combat.

Kenya’s alleged involvement in the conflict in Sudan and its support of the RSF in the conflict have further been corroborated through the hosting of several high-profile visits by RSF leaders to Nairobi, including General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo Mousa, who was sanctioned by the U.S. government on January 7, 2025, for his role in destabilizing Sudan and obstructing its democratic transition.

We, the undersigned Civil Society Organisations, commend Nation Media Group and Bellingcat for their bravery in investigating and publishing what the government may have wanted to remain hidden.

The response from the Ministry of Defence that it did not recognize the crates of ammunition with Kenyan labels is insufficient. The Ministry did not mention if Kenya has done any exports, international transfers, or diversion of weapons, to explain otherwise the presence of the Kenya-labelled crates of ammunition found near Khartoum.

We demand that Parliament and the Senate summon the Ministry of Defence to publicly provide a detailed and comprehensive account of how arms meant for the Kenya Defence Forces allegedly ended up with the RSF militia in Sudan. This question is of the utmost importance, given the impact such actions would have on human rights in Sudan.

The evidence in the exposé that points to Kenya’s frontline role in likely facilitating and aiding the killings, injury to, and otherwise terrorising of Sudanese civilians is overwhelming and irrefutable. We demand that this unholy alliance between the Government of Kenya and RSF stop, and those responsible for the alleged exports, transfers, and diversion of ammunition to the RSF be held accountable.

Further, the government must immediately uphold and respect international obligations under the United Nations Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Considering Kenya’s past track record of being a peacemaker within the East African Region, Kenya should never support any armed group that violates international human rights and humanitarian law.

We urge the UN Security Council to urgently summon Kenya to respond to these serious concerns regarding its involvement in fueling the continuation of the Conflict in Sudan, which runs contrary to the United Nations Security Council’s efforts and other UN mechanisms to address the conflict.

Lastly, Kenya must immediately refrain from further engaging in the peace talks or mediation process regarding the conflict in Sudan because it fails to be an impartial arbiter.

Joint statement issued by the following;

• African 4 The Horn of Africa Initiative (Af4HA)
• Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA)
• Civic Freedoms Forum (CFF)
• Independent Medical Legal Unit (IMLU)
• Kariobangi Paralegal Network (KAPARANET)
• Kawangware Paralegal Network (KAYPAT)
• Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
• Mathare Social Justice Center
• Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI)
• Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU)
• PAWA 254
• The Kenya Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-K)
• The Social Justice Centers Working Group
• Utu Wetu Trust