How William Ruto's dalliance with RSF risks isolating Kenya

RSF deputy commander Major Gen Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo (right), SPLM-N leader Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu (second left) and Sudan's NUP leader Fadlallah Burma (left), during the postponed signing of Sudan Founding Charter for establishing a peace and unity government at KICC, Nairobi on February 18, 2025 [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Kenya’s decision to facilitate a Sudan militia group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to declare the establishment a parallel government is sending shock waves in political and diplomatic circles.

Some observers have termed it unfortunate that Nairobi, which chairs the East African Community, was taking sides when the country should be playing its role of a neutral arbiter and allow the creation of an all-inclusive government in Khartoum.