Kenya’s decision to host Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in February has sparked diplomatic tension, drawing sharp rebuke from the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU) and Sudan government.

The fallout underscores Kenya’s growing entanglement in regional conflicts, with broader implications for its foreign relations. “Plans for a parallel ‘government’ by the Rapid Support Forces risk the partition of the country and jeopardise the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people for an inclusive, Sudanese-owned process that leads to the restoration of civilian rule,” the EU said in a statement.

During meetings in Nairobi, RSF leaders and allied political factions signed a charter to form a parallel government in areas under their control. Sudan’s government responded with outrage, recalling its ambassador from Nairobi and accusing Kenya of undermining its sovereignty.

The RSF statement came days after Kenya defended hosting the group despite Sudan’s protests. “After extensive consultations, which resulted in multiple postponements of the signing, leaders from various political and civil forces, armed movements, and the Rapid Support Forces successfully announced the formation of a new government, set to be revealed within the coming days,” RSF said.

RSF, which is fighting Sudan’s army, discussed forming a parallel government in RSF-held areas, sparking accusations that Kenya violated Sudan’s sovereignty.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi last month defended Kenya’s actions, saying they align with its role in peace efforts and commitment to helping Sudan resolve its political crisis. “We note that this is not the first time groups in Sudan have sought solutions to their crisis by leveraging the good offices of neighboring countries. Indeed, in January 2024, parties and stakeholders to the Sudanese conflict met in a neighboring country to chart a way forward on inclusive dialogue and return to civilian rule,” Mudavadi said.

The RSF, which has been accused of several massacres, said in a statement that Kenya remains unapologetic for hosting the group despite mounting international pressure. “The army-backed government’s foreign ministry said a total of 433 people had been killed, including children. The rebel RSF paramilitary attacks targeted villages of Al-Kadaris and Al-Khelwat in the White Nile state, 100km south of the capital,” DW reported.

According to international media houses, investigations uncovered a mass grave near Khartoum with over 500 bodies, while survivors reported torture, starvation, and abuse. The RSF has also committed sexual violence, including against infants, with 221 child victims documented.

The AU and EU have since distanced themselves from the Nairobi initiative, warning that any effort to establish a separate administration risks further destabilising Sudan. “The Council expressed its grave concern and outright condemnation of the recent developments in Sudan, in particular the announcement by the RSF and its affiliated political and social forces of the establishment of a parallel government in the Republic of Sudan,” the AU’s Peace and Security Council said in a statement Monday.

The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has been locked in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023. The fighting has left over 24,000 dead and displaced millions, according to the United Nations. By hosting the RSF in Nairobi, Kenya has raised concerns about its neutrality in the conflict.

“This is a serious diplomatic miscalculation,” said Shitemi Abdi, a Horn of Africa analyst, adding, “Kenya risks alienating Sudan’s government and regional allies who view the RSF as a destabilising force.”

Sudan has urged AU member states and the international community to reject RSF’s parallel administration. “Kenya’s irresponsible stance in embracing the genocide-linked RSF militia, seeking to legitimise its unprecedented atrocities, isolates the country both regionally and internationally, placing it in the category of a rogue state that defies international norms,” Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The AU’s Peace and Security Council called on all nations to withhold recognition and refrain from providing assistance to any entity seeking to govern Sudan outside a unified national framework. The crisis has deepened the humanitarian toll, with more than 12 million Sudanese displaced.

Kenya’s involvement in the Sudanese conflict comes amid a series of diplomatic tensions with its regional and international partners. President William Ruto’s administration has faced criticism for its handling of disputes with Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia.