Unneighbourly conduct: Is Kenya the main regional haven for diplomatic bad boys?

On Thursday, a group of Kenyan parliamentarians waded into the diplomatic row between Ethiopia and Somalia after they called for the immediate cancellation of a deal signed between Ethiopia and the self-declared republic of Somaliland.

The MPs from the North Eastern region said the deal, which was struck earlier this year, grants Ethiopia a 50-year lease of a 20-kilometre stretch of seaport access in Somaliland, in exchange for Ethiopia's support for Somaliland's quest for international recognition.

However, the MPs, led by Eldas MP Adan Keynan, have termed the deal a "blatant provocation" and a violation of Somalia's territorial integrity and political independence in a statement that had the blessings of the Somalia embassy in Nairobi.

But it is the hosting of Sudanese rebel leader General Dagalo at State House on Monday by President Ruto that triggered the Sudanese regime to recall its ambassador from Nairobi.

Before Khartoum acted, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recalled its ambassador John Nyakeru, protesting the creation of a new coalition of rebel leaders in Nairobi.

The Kinshasa administration wanted Nairobi to explain the incident where Corneille Nangaa, the former chair of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni), created a coalition in the city during the electioneering period.

The DRC President Felix Tshisekedi's government said it had also complained about Kenya to the East African Community (EAC) and also recalled its representative to the EAC in Arusha, Pierre Masala.

In July, the Sudanese government led by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Abdel Fattah al-Burhan rejected President Ruto as the chief negotiator in the Sudanese conflict, claiming that he had taken sides.

This followed July 10, 2023, an Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) meeting in Addis Ababa, that picked President Ruto to lead an IGAD sub-committee called the Quartet Group, with the responsibility of mediating an end to Sudan's four-month-old war. According to the UN, the Sudan war had displaced three million people both internally and across the border into neighbouring countries.

Defense CS Aden Duale. [Samson Wire, Standard]

He said that Ruto as the chair of the Quartet Group tasked to bring peace in Sudan had the responsibility of hosting Gen Dagalo after he met with Burhan as part of building peace in the region.

"Kenya is the anchor state in the region, in IGAD, East Africa Community, the Great Lakes, and a big stakeholder in terms of peace in the continent and the globe. Ruto is keen to stabilize the region as he solidifies his push for a peaceful and united Africa. Why does it become a problem if he meets warring groups in a neighbouring country like Sudan?" wondered Duale.

He said that since its independence, Kenya had participated in 46 peacekeeping missions across the world in the last 60 years and the efforts have been further amplified during Ruto's presidency.

"President Ruto wants peace for the region, in Sudan, in the Tigray and Northern Ethiopia region, in Somalia, DRC where he assigned former President Uhuru Kenyatta to push for peace, the Head of State is burning midnight candle to ensure that the region and the Horn of Africa are stable," said Duale.

Duale said that Kenya was committed to peace in the region diplomatically and militarily, and would not be distracted from its commitment to a stable East African Community, Horn of Africa, Great Lakes region, and continent.

In the past, Kenya has been in an enviable position and played critical roles in the stability of the regions and the continent at large.

These include playing host to President Yoweri Museveni during his National Resistance Movement in Uganda in the 80s; pushing for peace in the conflicts in Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, Somali, and Sudan that led to South Sudan independence.