Kenya is urging Sudan's armed rivals to join a coalition formed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which it says could help form a long-lasting government of unity.
And after days of lying low in Nairobi, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a sanctioned paramilitary force in Sudan, announced on Sunday the signing of a deal that they say will begin the formation of an inclusive government and end the deadly war against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The deal came despite protestations from the Sudanese military government of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and a general reluctance by regional neighbours to embrace a group whose war atrocities have been condemned by the UN.
But in Nairobi, the RSF said it had inked a deal at a closed-door meeting "to kick-start the formation of a unity government", according to a dispatch issued by the new coalition, known as the Sudan Foundation Alliance.
It said the agreement came after four days of talks involving 20 political parties from "across Sudan, 10 civil organisations, five military groups and other lobby groups", all of whom signed the charter. The official list of the 20 groups has not been made public. But a source told The EastAfrican that the coalition will be led by the RSF under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. Other notable groups include
- Sudan Liberation Movement - Transitional Council (SLM-TC) led by al-Hadi Idris
- Umma Party led by Fadlallah Burma Nasir,
- Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdul Wahid Mohamed Nur, which controls large parts of the Jabel Marra region in Western Darfur.
- Sudan Liberation Movement-North, led by Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu, which controls parts of Southern Blue Nile and Blue Nile provinces.
One notable absentee group is the Civil Democratic Alliance for the Forces of the Revolution (SOMOD), led by Abdalla Hamdok, a former interim prime minister who was ousted in October 2021, incidentally by both the SAF and RSF when they were working on the same side. Hamdok had initially joined forces with al-Hila and Nur, initially signing a peace declaration last year in which they pledged to pursue a political path to end the war. But their political movement, known as Taqaddum, split last month, with one group remaining neutral and the other joining RSF.
The alliance's message said the groups had agreed on an inclusive, top-down government and that their movement would be free from "political interference, stop the ongoing war in Sudan, fight terrorism and further boost diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries".
But even in their alliance, it was unclear whether theirs was a 'peace agreement' for a unity government or simply a 'roadmap' to start the journey of forming a government in the future.
The Kenyan government used both terms, claiming that up to 4,000 stakeholders had gathered in Nairobi to discuss the charter.
“The steps are welcomed and encouraging in a journey toward the restoration of peace, stability, and democratic governance in the Republic of Sudan,” said Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
“The peace roadmap signed in Nairobi is a testament to the willingness of the Sudanese political and civil society groups to prioritise the future of their country over divisions, and we recognise the efforts of all those who have shown the courage to engage in this dialogue
“The peace roadmap signed in Nairobi provides a good framework for further negotiations, and it is our firm expectation that the signatories will actively engage with their fellow citizens and other parties to the conflict, ensuring that the interests of all Sudanese are fully represented as they move forward,” he said.
Their gathering in Nairobi had been controversial, particularly because RSF, which has been sanctioned for genocide, has continued to attack civilians. The military government, whose leaders are also under US sanctions for war crimes, protested and threatened to cut trade links with Nairobi, from which Sudan imports most of its tea.
But officials in Nairobi have argued that the military government's leverage is also limited, given its coup in 2021, which has seen it suspended by the African Union, sanctions imposed on its leaders, including Burhan, and the general toll of the war on Sudan. With the RSF, the Sudan Armed Forces’ (SAF) main rival, Nairobi insists it's a player and that peace in Sudan cannot be achieved without the group at the table.
“Kenya strongly encourages all Sudanese parties to remain steadfast in their pursuit of peace and to address any emerging challenges with a spirit of collaboration, mutual respect, and inclusivity.
“Achieving this will require the full participation of all Sudanese stakeholders, government, opposition, and civil society, working together to build a lasting peace that encompasses the hopes and aspirations of every citizen,” Mudavadi said.
It remains to be seen how the African Union and the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), which had earlier launched a regional peace bid, will respond to the developments in Nairobi. Their offers have failed to bring about the necessary ceasefire. Mudavadi said regional blocs and the UN should support the peace bid.
The RSF-SAF conflict has left at least 23,000 people dead, hundreds of thousands injured and some 12 million displaced. At least 25 million Sudanese now face constant hunger as a result of the war. The US and the UN, as well as several human rights watchdogs, have found evidence of genocide, war crimes and other crimes against humanity in Sudan, blamed on both sides of the war.
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