The highly anticipated formation of a parallel government in Nairobi by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other allied rebels fighting to take over leadership in the war-torn Sudan has been postponed.
After half a day of a highly colourful ceremony graced with dance and speeches from the rebels led by Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the ceremony that was expected to be concluded by signing a power agreement was pushed back to Friday, February 21, 2025.
The militia, notorious for its brutal campaign in Sudan, had gathered in the Kenyan capital to unveil a rival administration in defiance of Khartoum’s leadership.
Although the leader of RSF Mohammad Hamdan Daglo ‘Hemedti’ was not present, The Eastleigh Voice learnt that the new power-sharing pact between the sanctioned rebel group and its allies includes Hemedti having six council members who will rule over different parts of Sudan.
Dr Ibrahim Mukhayer, a representative of RSF, said the ceremony was very important because it signalled their commitment to bringing peace following decades of war that has claimed thousands of lives.
“The presence of RSF here means we are committed to peace. This is a great step towards ensuring that we bring an end to the conflict in Sudan,” said Ibrahim.
He thanked President William Ruto for allowing the event to take place in Kenya, praising him as a peace-loving head of State.
Tight security
In the event marked with high security that included confiscation of phones and other electronic gadgets belonging to attendees, videos of RSF’s long struggle to take over the Sudanese government were played to the crowd.
This comes a day after reports emerged that the Sudanese army continued its advance in the capital Khartoum and the city of Bahri to its north, seizing control of several neighbourhoods.
In a brief statement Monday, the army said its forces “advanced along the Kober Bridge axis, took control of Universal Hospital in Kober district and cleared the area of RSF militia, which had occupied infrastructure and used it as military bases.”
With these developments, the army is moving closer to fully controlling Bahri and the East Nile area.
In Khartoum, the army has taken over the Abu Hamama neighbourhood on Al-Sajana Street, located in the southern-central part of the capital.
In another statement, the army said its forces “achieved victory and crushed the RSF militia” in Ar-Rahad in North Kordofan state.
The army also shared videos on its official Facebook page showing residents of Ar-Rahad celebrating alongside soldiers after the city’s recapture.
Reclaimed city
Ar-Rahad is the second city in North Kordofan that the army has reclaimed in two weeks, following its recapture of Umm Ruwaba, the state’s second-largest city.
The RSF seized Ar-Rahad in May 2023. The city lies about 30 kilometres from El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan.
The army and RSF have been fighting since mid-April 2023, in a war that has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 14 million, according to the UN and local authorities. Research from US universities, however, estimates the death toll at around 130,000.
Calls by the international community and the UN for an end to the war are mounting, with warnings of an impending humanitarian catastrophe as millions face famine and death due to food shortages. The conflict has spread to 13 of Sudan’s 18 states.
The Kenyan government’s decision to host the RSF leadership has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics questioning Nairobi’s diplomatic credibility.
Just last week, at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Kenya pledged $1 million (Sh130 million) in humanitarian aid for the Sudanese people. Now, the same government appears to have rolled out the red carpet for those accused of tormenting Sudanese civilians.
Kenyans react
Kenyans have reacted to the new development, with many accusing the government of diplomatic recklessness and hypocrisy for hosting RSF.
Beyond regional politics, Kenya also risks heightened scrutiny from continental, regional and Western powers, particularly the US, which has taken a strong stance against the RSF.
Given Washington’s existing sanctions on key RSF figures, Nairobi’s perceived facilitation of the group’s political ambitions could invite further diplomatic pressure.
The move also comes in the wake of Kenya’s diplomatic bruising after Raila Odinga lost the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, further complicating Nairobi’s standing on the regional stage.
The new development could see the African Union, which has so far kept Sudan at arm’s length, forced to either reaffirm its suspension or reassess its position in light of the RSF’s growing influence.
