Formation of parallel Sudan gov't in doubt after RFS Nairobi presser cancelled

The planned press conference by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan in Nairobi on Thursday was rocked by confusion, with conflicting information flooding newsrooms.

The initial invitation, sent by the Sudan Founding Alliance, invited journalists to cover the event from 10:30am-12pm. The group, which includes the RSF and various armed struggle movements, made the announcement on Wednesday.

However, just two hours before the scheduled time, newsrooms received an update stating the event had been moved to 4pm due to technicalities.

"Due to some technicalities, the briefing has been moved to 4PM. Other details remain the same. Apologies for any inconvenience caused," read the text update.

At around 11:45am, a new press invite went out, shifting both the time and the location again, now setting the conference for 3:30pm-4:30pm at a different venue.

The RSF and the Sudan Founding Alliance emphasized the event had not been cancelled, despite earlier reports to the contrary.

"The press conference has not been canceled as communicated by other channels. Please note the change of venue," the Sudan Founding Alliance said in the update.

The shifting announcements revealed a clear rift within the group. At 3:30pm, journalists arrived at the new venue, the JW Marriott Hotel, but the management confirmed that the event was cancelled.

Moments later, a final communication from the Sudan Founding Alliance arrived, announcing that the press conference had been postponed to a later date.

"We regret to inform you that the press conference has been postponed to a later date, which will be communicated," read the text.

The ongoing changes and uncertainty point to a divided group, with the RSF's planned announcement of a political charter and constitution now in limbo, amid mounting confusion and disarray.

This follows Kenya’s support for the RSF, a move that has sparked diplomatic concerns, with Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, defending Kenya’s position, stating the RSF's roadmap aligns with the country's principles of mediation saying they RSF is also leveraging on good offices in Nairobi.

Meanwhile, in Sudan, the RSF is reported to have carried out a massacre in the White Nile, killing over 200 people earlier this week, raising more questions in Kenya about the country's dalliance with the Janjaweed militia.