- EDITOR’S BRIEF: Nyoro’s post of a warring Sudanese general has caused uproar among Kenyans who believe that it could hamper peace efforts made by their government and other world leaders. The conflict in Sudan has been ongoing and has resulted in many deaths, mostly civilians. With Kenya’s offer to mediate talks and aid Sudan in restoring order, it is important to focus on silencing the guns and enabling people to pursue opportunities and realize their aspirations in peace and tranquility.
On April 23rd, Ndindi Nyoro, a Member of Parliament from Kiharu, Kenya, posted a photo of Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in Sudan that is currently at war with the country’s military force.
The caption of the photo read, “We are African, and Africa is our business.” The conflict between RSF and the military is centered around their battle for control of Sudan. The RSF seeks to topple the army chief Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan as the head of the country, leading to an ongoing military stalemate that has resulted in over 200 deaths, mostly civilians.
Many Kenyans were outraged by Nyoro’s post, as Kenya had offered to mediate talks and aid Sudan in restoring order to the country. Some argued that Nyoro should have refrained from making controversial posts, especially as President William Ruto had called for a ceasefire between RSF and the military. Nyoro faced backlash from those who believed that his post risked hampering peace efforts made by Ruto and other world leaders.
Earlier that day, Foreign CS, Alfred Mutua, had announced that the Kenyan government was working closely with the Canadian government to evacuate Kenyans stuck in Sudan. On April 16th, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) chose Ruto to be among the Heads of State to mediate in the Sudan crisis. Alongside South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, they were tasked to help broker a ceasefire in Sudan.
Many foreign affairs experts argue that Western capitals have called for a return to a “civilian-led” transition in Sudan, which is a new strategy towards negotiating a new partnership between the military and the paramilitary wing. Kenya’s President Ruto stated that it is time to silence the guns in the region and continent so that people can pursue opportunities and realize their aspirations in peace and tranquility.
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