Sudan accuses Kenya of supporting rebels as country reaffirms rejection of Ruto mediation

KHARTOUM, JUNE 16, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Sudan’s military leader Gen. Abdelfattah al-Burhan reiterated on Thursday his country’s rejection of Kenyan President William Ruto’s role as a mediator, saying the east African country harbors and support Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels.

Sudan plunged into a deadly conflict on April 15 after the paramilitary RSF launched attack on various government and army positions in the capital Khartoum and in the northern city of Merowe where they thought to take control of the airport.

IGAD is the only international organization, beside the United States and Saudi Arabia, that are involved in efforts to bring the Sudanese leaders to negotiating table for peace ending of the violence which has killed around 200 people and displaced millions.

In a phone call with Ismail Omar, the president of Djibouti and current chair of IGAD, Al-Burhan who is also the head of the army said that Kenya, which was appointed by IGAD during the recent summit in Djibouti as head of the mediation team, is not neutral.

“This is given that Kenya is not neutral and harbors leaders of the RSF rebels,” he said of why Sudan rejects Kenyan president’s mediation, adding that Sudan support “the IGAD initiative aimed at finding possible solutions for peace in Sudan.”