Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has defended Tuesday’s meeting by Rapid Support Forces(RSF), saying it provided a platform to find a lasting solution

“We note that this is not the first time groups in Sudan have sought solutions to their crisis by leveraging the good offices of neighbouring countries. Indeed, in January 2024, parties and stakeholders to the Sudanese conflict met in a neighbouring country to chart a way forward on inclusive dialogue and return to civilian rule,” said Mudavadi.

He added: “RSF and Sudanese civilian groups’ tabling of a roadmap and proposed leadership in Nairobi is compatible with Kenya’s role in peace negotiation, which enjoins her to provide non-partisan platforms to conflict parties to seek resolutions.”

He said Kenya, therefore, reiterates its solidarity with the people of Sudan as they define their destiny and future political governance through inclusive dialogue.

Mudavadi, who is also Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary said Kenya is confident that the Sudanese people will find a quick solution to the current situation and in a manner that safeguards its security and that of the region.

This comes even as Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested Kenya’s decision to host the meeting, which aimed to sign a political agreement to form a rival administration.

Sudan expressed regret over the Kenyan government’s disregard for its obligations under international law, the United Nations Charter, African Union’s Constitutive Charter, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

“Given that the stated objective of this agreement is to establish a parallel government on part of Sudanese territory, this move promotes the dismembering of African states, violates the sovereignty, and interferes in their internal affairs. This is, therefore a clear breach of the UN Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the established principles of the contemporary international order,” the statement read in part.

Among the attendees of the Nairobi meeting were National Umma Party leader Fadlallah Burma Nasir, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu, leaders of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and RSF deputy commander Abdelrahim Daglo, who didn’t address the event.

Sudan faulted Kenya for hosting the event ‘between the terrorist Janjaweed militia-responsible for ongoing acts of genocide in Sudan and its affiliated individuals and groups,” said the Ministry in a statement dated February 18.

The statement by Sudan came a day after the government allowed the meeting at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, which also included opposition political leaders, armed movements who are against the leadership of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Al-Burhan is the Sudanese army general and the de facto ruler of Sudan since October 2021 after seizing power in a coup d’état, dissolving the Sovereignty Council, reconstituting it the following month with new membership and installing himself as chairman.

He was formerly the General Inspector of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

But on Wednesday in Nairobi, RSF denied plans to form a parallel government. They said they plan to hold a convention, whose aim is to come up with proposals that would address urgently the humanitarian crisis and ultimately silence the war in Sudan.

 “We are in Kenya not to establish a government, nor are we here to govern from outside Sudan. When the time comes to form a government, we will return to Sudan, where the people will decide their future,” said Ezzadin ElSafi, Special Advisor to RSF Commander.

He added: “Kenya serves as a neutral ground for facilitation and dialogue, helping us address the root causes of Sudan’s crisis just as our leaders did in 2005 during negotiations between North and South Sudan.”

Sudan, however, said by Kenya hosting and allowing RSF leaders to conduct their activities in the country, it had endorsed the ‘heinous’ acts that have been and are being committed by RSF.

“Hosting leaders of the terrorist RSF militia and allowing them to conduct political and propaganda activities while they continue to perpetrate genocide, massacre civilians on an ethnic basis, attack IDP camps and commit acts of rape, constitutes an endorsement of and complicity in these heinous crimes,” it said.

It added: “Equally, this action by the Kenya government not only violates 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. It is therefore, tantamount to an act of hostility against the entire Sudanese people.”