As the conflict in Sudan enters its third year, we must grasp its impact on the people of Sudan, neighboring states—including Kenya—and the broader region. There should be no doubt that the risks of protracted conflict and humanitarian disaster compel us to pursue a comprehensive peace. This peace must end the suffering of the Sudanese, restore the country to a path of realizing its immense potential, and reinforce stability in our shared neighborhood.
First, it is critical to recognize that the Sudanese conflict has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe of alarming severity, scale, and duration. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, and millions of livelihoods have vanished. Over 10 million Sudanese—20 percent of the population—are currently displaced from their homes. Many of these displaced people have sought refuge in Kenya and other nearby countries. This influx puts intense pressure on fragile states such as Chad, South Sudan, and Libya, all of which must now contend with significant resource constraints and vulnerabilities.
Second, more than 30 million Sudanese people, including 16 million children, urgently require humanitarian aid to avert famine and disease. Prolonged fighting has compounded Sudan’s existing challenges—including disease outbreaks, climatic shocks, food insecurity, conflict-related sexual violence, and the collapse of critical public health and education sectors. The region and the world risk losing an entire generation of Sudanese youth if we fail to secure a swift path to peace.
Third, we must confront the formidable threat that ongoing conflict in Sudan poses to regional stability across East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Through coordinated efforts with international partners, Kenya has made strides in addressing terrorist threats and organized crime. However, these achievements could rapidly unravel without a stable government in Sudan, which risks becoming a sanctuary for extremist and terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda, and Ansar Allah. The unrestricted flow of illicit goods, weapons, and mercenaries allows organized crime to flourish and undermines the safety of Kenyans and our neighbors alike.
Given this context, Kenya had to make a decisive choice when war erupted in Sudan. We could either remain passive and avoid potential difficulties or proactively encourage the warring parties to pursue a negotiated solution. Considering the grim humanitarian toll and the dangers to regional security, Kenya took the only rational path. We stand resolutely by our commitment to peace for the benefit of Sudan, Kenya, and our entire region.
The “Do Nothing” Option
For some, indifference to regional conflicts might be an option; for Kenya, it is not. Our security and prosperity are interwoven with that of our neighbors, making regional stability central to our foreign policy. That is why, just three days after hostilities started in Khartoum, and in the following months, we worked through IGAD (the Intergovernmental Authority on Development) to convene urgent meetings at the heads-of-state level. These meetings initially took place virtually and then in person across different capitals, seeking a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
Kenya also advocated for a strong African response, including the deployment of the Africa Standby Force—an African Union-led mechanism of military, police, and civilian elements prepared for rapid interventions to protect civilians and secure access for relief efforts. Regrettably, efforts by IGAD were hindered when one or another faction refused to engage in dialogue, stalling the implementation of well-intentioned resolutions.
The Role of African Leadership
Despite these setbacks, some parties demonstrated a willingness to negotiate under non-African initiatives. While such forums offered temporary progress, the lack of a robust African role reduced the possibility of forging a durable peace. This dynamic inadvertently enabled combatants to avoid full accountability, undermining efforts to address the crisis comprehensively.
Kenya has consistently reminded the international community that the current turmoil in Sudan stems from the military’s illegal overthrow of the people’s will—an overthrow orchestrated jointly by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). We have cautioned against selectively blaming one faction while absolving the other. Kenya has also highlighted the indispensability of Sudan’s civil society—including groups like Tagadoon, many of whose members have found refuge in Nairobi—in shaping a lasting political settlement. The recent signing of the Sudan Founding Alliance Charter in Nairobi is a promising milestone on which a truly inclusive Sudanese future may be built.
Finally, the government of Kenya will remain committed to diplomatic, humanitarian, and technical support in Sudan, guided by our long history of African solidarity and the unequivocal imperative to alleviate human suffering. Should we fail to act decisively, Sudan will slide further into catastrophe, and the threat of widespread instability will grow ever more tangible. My administration stands ready to collaborate, providing whatever support is necessary to help Sudan recapture its future and reassert itself as a strong, peaceful, and prosperous partner in our shared region.
William Ruto is president of Kenya.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
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