On Thursday, Sudan withdrew its ambassador from Nairobi, expressing dissatisfaction with Kenyan President William Ruto’s decision to host talks with paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
This move has fueled tension, particularly with Burhan’s administration, which is striving to counter the paramilitaries’ recent gains and prevent their international recognition.
In a statement, Sudan’s acting foreign minister Ali al-Sadiq said the ambassador had been recalled “for consultations in protest of the official reception organised by the Kenyan government for the leader of the rebel militia.”
He said those consultations would “cover all possibilities for the outcome of Sudan’s relations with Kenya.”
For months, relations between Burhan and the Kenyan government have been strained as Nairobi endeavors to maintain open lines of communication with Daglo, seeking a role as a mediator in the conflict.
In a January 1 address, the army chief issued a warning, asserting that African governments hosting visits by “these killers” were effectively aligning themselves as accomplices in the tragedy of the Sudanese people.
The ongoing war has claimed over 12,190 lives, as per a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, and forced more than seven million individuals to flee their homes, according to UN figures.
Despite efforts to mediate, progress remains stunted due to the deep-seated animosity between the rival generals
