Sudan Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed on Sunday said President William Ruto has changed his stance on the Sudan conflict, and that he will not recognize the government the Rapid Support Forces intend to announce in the areas under its control, Sudan Tribune reports.
Quoting “Al-Muhaqqiq” website, Sudan Tribune reported that Minister Youssef said Nairobi had “reconsidered its position towards Sudan, based on the new data in the war.”
“The idea of the Rapid Support Forces taking power in the country has stopped for Kenyan President William Ruto,” the minister is quoted as saying.
Youssef concluded his visit to Kenya on Friday, where he held talks with President Ruto, who has had close relations with the Rapid Support Forces leaders.
A press release by Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson said the official visit was at the invitation of Kenya Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi.
“The two ministers held bilateral talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exploring ways to enhance cooperation in various fields.
The Foreign Minister noted the long-standing relations between Sudan and Kenya and their support for joint efforts towards regional peace and stability,” the statement said.
It added that the two ministers signed a joint communique in which they committed to strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors, including economic, political and multilateral diplomacy.
The two sides pledged to work jointly to support peace initiatives in the region and address the pressing challenges posed by terrorism, extremism and human trafficking.
The two sides also agreed to continue dialogue and cooperation through the revival of the Joint Commission for Cooperation and resume the work of the Joint Ministerial Committee.
During the joint press briefing on Friday, Youssef admitted there were hick ups in the diplomatic relations between the two states, referring to Sudan’s recall of its envoy in Nairobi after President William Ruto hosted RSF leader Mohamed Dagalo Hemedti in Nairobi in January last year.
Sudan Armed Forces had also rejected President Ruto as the IGAD Mediation Quartet head, accusing him of being pro-RSF and harbouring its elemenst in Nairobi.
“Our meeting in Rwanda was the turning point in our approach in our relations. So we are here to work on our bilateral relations, and this means reviving the Joint Ministerial Committee,” Youssef said in Nairobi.
On his part, Mudavadi said Kenya wants peace to be restored in Sudan “so that the economic partnership that has always been there can return”.
“As we go forward, because building trust and confidence after such a challenge is not easy, we will be happy to support you and walk with you as the measures you continue to put in place in your country continue to take root,” Mudavadi said.
TALKS WITH RUTO
Minister Youssef also conveyed greetings of Sudan military leader and Chairman of the Transitional Council, Lt Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and his desire to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
“He also briefed him on the political developments in the country, especially the great victories achieved by the armed forces and the recovery of large parts of the country from the clutches of the terrorist militia,” the statement added.
During the talks, Ruto accepted an invitation to visit Sudan on a date that would be agreed on through diplomatic channels.
“The Kenyan President also affirmed his support for Sudan’s return to the African Union and IGAD, and joint work to strengthen bilateral relations in the political and economic fields and coordination in international forums,” the spokesperson added.
The African Union suspended Sudan’s AU membership after the military coup against the civilian government on October 25, 2021.
The minister said Ruto believes the freeze on the membership of countries experiencing problems should be reviewed and he saw that “this is an important discussion, moving in the direction of lifting the freeze on Sudan’s membership in the African Union.”
