The junta Sudan government on Thursday summoned its ambassador in Nairobi for consultations.
Foreign Minister-designate, Ambassador Ali Al-Sadiq, confirmed that Sudan had summoned its envoy in protest against the official reception organized by the Kenyan government for the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces , Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, on Wednesday.
Terming Dagalo as a leader of the rebel militia, Al-Sadiq said Nairobi offered Dagalo an elaborate reception, “forgetting the terrible violations committed by his disbanded forces and the destruction they caused on infrastructure, the country’s capabilities, and citizens’ property”.
The minister added in a statement to SUNA, the state media agency, that the consultation with the ambassador will cover all possibilities for the outcome of Sudan’s relations with Kenya.
He said that since the outbreak of the war in the country in April, Nairobi has been continuing the rebellion by hosting RSF leaders and supporters, in addition to conspiring with hostile regional powers against Sudan.
Dagalo met with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi where they held talks over the conflict that broke out in April last year.
He received an almost head of state reception at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport complete with a flower girls and troupe of dancers, while he had flag protocols set up at State House Nairobi for the photo op.
Uganda and Djibouti did not extend such treatment, although in Ethiopia, he was received by the Deputy Prime Minister and accorded a guard of honour.
At the airport, he was received by Kenya’s powerful Interior and National Administration Minister Prof Kithure Kindiki, National Intelligence Service Chief Noordin Haji and Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda, a close ally of President Ruto who has in the past been accused of involvement in gold scams.
In May 2019, police investigating a fake gold racket profiled businessman Jhanda as a person of interest in the conning of UAE ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, claims he has severally denied.
In July last year, the legislator released a video telling off Lt Gen Yasser al-Atta, assistant commander-in-chief of the Sudan Armed Forces, who accused Ruto of interfering with Sudanese internal affairs.
Jhanda said Ruto’s intention was to ensure peace prevails in Sudan and people have access to aid and that Kenya has no interest in who governs Sudan but the people must be protected.
“Our business with Sudan is not about who leads Sudan, our business is to ensure that the humanitarian corridor is open so that the people in Sudan should not die. They should be given food; they should be given medicine,” he said.
Kenya Defence Forces Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla was also present at the State House talks on Wednesday.
