President William Ruto has promised an extra $1 million to support humanitarian efforts in the war-torn Sudan.
Speaking during the High-Level Humanitarian Conference for the People of Sudan in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the 38th African Summit, Ruto said Kenya would add to the initial $1 million Kenya pledged in April, 2024, a promise yet to be fulfilled.
“At the humanitarian pledging conference held in Paris in April 2024, Kenya pledged $1 million to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan. I am pleased to confirm that Kenya will fulfil this pledge with an additional $1 million to demonstrate our support for the Sudanese people,” President Ruto said.
However, the aspect of the additional funding was not captured in the official written speech shared to the media.
President Ruto noted that the crisis had worsened by the massive displacement of civilians, with an estimated 11 million people forced to flee their homes.
“The collapse of healthcare systems, the spread of preventable diseases, and the deterioration of medical infrastructure have further deepened the humanitarian emergency. The crisis’s regional impact is equally severe, as neighbouring countries struggle with overstretched social services due to the growing refugee crisis. This situation demands urgent regional and global intervention,” he said.
He added that any discussion on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan must acknowledge it is a man-made disaster, and regrettable that the dire humanitarian conditions in Sudan stem from a political crisis that has escalated into prolonged and senseless armed conflict.
“Kenya continues to urge the warring parties to recognise that military solutions if any do not bring sustainable peace. We encourage all Sudanese stakeholders to commit to a political resolution through genuine and inclusive dialogue. As a steadfast advocate for peace, Kenya – along with IGAD – remains fully prepared to support and facilitate efforts towards a negotiated settlement,” he said.
The President, who was initially rejected a the lead IGAD mediator on the conflict, said all external actors supporting the warring parties should refrain from actions that further endanger the lives and future of the Sudanese people.
“As members of the African Union and the United Nations, we must uphold the fundamental principles of respect for territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and good neighborliness in our pursuit of lasting peace and stability in Sudan,” he said.
AU HIGH-LEVEL PANEL CONCERNED
On Tuesday, the Chairman of the African Union High Level Panel on Sudan (HLP-Sudan) warned that the ongoing armed conflict in the country had seriously exacerbated the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas said the war had disrupted the delivery of humanitarian aid, exacerbating food shortages and famine among civilians. Ibn Chambas described the conditions in Sudan as “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
In a post by the African Union on X, Ibn Chambas said the particular suffering experienced by children, the elderly and women was a result of widespread violations and the lack of healthcare.
He also noted that external interference has contributed to prolonging the conflict, which has hindered the implementation of the African Union’s main roadmap for practical measures to eliminate military operations in Africa.
“The military solution is not the appropriate option, as political dialogue between the Sudanese parties is the only way to end this war, to restore security and stability,” he said.
He added that the efforts put forth by the AU to address the crisis in Sudan are based on a roadmap that adopts a purely Sudanese solution based on dialogue, while emphasizing the principles of inclusiveness, reconciliation, neutrality of mediators and transparency.
