Ruto dismisses claims Kenya is supporting RSF in Sudan conflict

According to President Ruto, both parties are responsible for the humanitarian crisis that has dogged the East African nation for over 36 months and immediate intervention is needed to settle the scuffle. 

The conflict between the two forces has displaced millions, drawn in regional powers and caused a vast humanitarian crisis since it broke out in April 2023.

"Both SAF and RSF are cut from the same cloth. They are a product of the same coup that overthrew a civilian administration. They subsequently disagreed and have taken the country to the dogs so to speak," he told France 24.

"The kind of mayhem in Sudan, the refugee situation, the displacement is on a scale that is unprecedented."

President Ruto also distanced himself from allegations that Kenya supports the RSF forces, amid claims that some RSF-linked individuals were facilitated with Kenyan passports.

The Head of State has argued that blame game will only derail efforts to achieve a ceasefire.

He intimated that Kenya will work with the Quad — Egypt, USA, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — to create peace among the warring parties.

"There can never be any justification for anybody to continue babysitting the situation in Sudan. Some tough talk must get into this," he said.

"We have agreed with the president of Egypt that we need to bring these two gentlemen to the table and Kenya will do its part. The war in Sudan affects the region and we will do whatever it takes. Rumours and propaganda aside, women, children and families are suffering."

Meanwhile, the UAE, which has been widely accused of arming RSF, has also repeatedly denied the allegations.

The UAE has long opposed the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood, allegedly an integral part of SAF and its political Islam.

The United States in January declared several other Muslim Brotherhood branches to be terrorist organizations, including in its historic base of Egypt.

The paramilitary group has widely been accused of committing mass atrocities in Sudan, with the US saying last year that the RSF had carried out acts of genocide against black Sudanese.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire have repeatedly collapsed as talks mediated by the Quad have stalled for months.

In January, Sudan's army was studying a new proposal from the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Since April 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands, displaced over 11 million people and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises.