Kenya demands action to compel Sudan factions to dialogue

Speaking during the London Conference on Sudan, Mudavadi vouched for the creation of safe spaces for the groups to hold conversations and ensure all voices are heard. 

He noted that once peace is restored in Sudan, the plight of civilians would be alleviated. 

"Kenya called for an all-inclusive dialogue for the diverse Sudanese people and stated that pressure must be exerted in equal measure on the parties to the conflict to force them to the negotiating table," the statement read in part. 

During the conference, Mudavadi also urged the funding partners to honour their commitments to assist thousands displaced by the war. 

He added that all stakeholders should respect the African Union and regional institutions such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), citing that they are appropriate bodies to handle the issues on the continent. 

The forum also brought together Foreign Ministers and other High-level Representatives from Canada, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Norway, Qatar, South Sudan, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, and the United States of America.

Despite the discussions, Mudavadi noted that the leaders did not agree on a consensus but called for more concerted efforts to unite the conflicting parties. 

In the past months, Kenya has been fostering regional peace and unity, a decision that has attracted praise and criticism in equal measure.

Kenya's decision to host the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leaders in Nairobi was criticised by the Sudanese government, which retaliated by banning all Kenyan imports. 

The Sudanese government, led by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting for control of the nation since April 2023, in a war that has claimed thousands of lives and left nearly 13 million people homeless.

In recent weeks, the Sudanese army has managed to edge out the RSF group from Khartoum, the nation's capital.

However, the RSF group retaliated by advancing in the western region of Darfur and displacing hundreds of thousands from the refugee camps.