Ruto Slams Main Cause Of Sudan Conflict, Issues Rallying Call

President William Ruto on Wednesday, April 19 expressed concern about the conflict in Sudan that has so far seen more than fifty people, including civilians, losing their lives and hundreds of others injured.

In a video address, Ruto feared that the conflict, which has also seen property destroyed en-masse and citizens of the Sudanese nation displaced, could have damaging effects not just on the East African region but on the whole of Africa.

"Kenya is deeply alarmed that a misunderstanding over a single outstanding item in the Political Framework Agreement, namely the time frame for integrating the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), has degenerated into violent conflict. As a result, the parties to the Framework Agreement have been engaged in a military confrontation," he addressed.

President William Ruto during a virtual meeting with Heads of State at State House on April 16, 2023. /PCS

He noted that the indiscriminate deployment of lethal weapons and air power by both RSF and SAF has targeted military and non-military targets, causing devastating damage to property as well as strategic public infrastructure, including roads, bridges and airports.

In particular, activities around Khartoum International Airport were halted with aircraft set ablaze.

"We are also deeply concerned that members of the diplomatic community have been targeted and civilians, in general, have been caught in the crossfire. A pattern of systematic violation of established norms and principles of international humanitarian laws is clearly emerging and this situation is evolving into a threat to regional and international peace and security," he went on.

On behalf of Kenya, Ruto implored the leadership of the two parties to ensure full compliance with the resolution of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Heads of State Summit held on Sunday, April 16.

"This includes an immediate cessation of hostilities, allowing unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and extending full cooperation to the IGAD Heads of States mission when it visits Khartoum," he directed.

He termed the outcome of these engagements and evidence of cooperation from the two parties as crucial to the resumption and conclusion of negotiations on the Political Framework Agreement.

In urging this course of action, Kenya noted that disregard for the resolutions, coupled with the evident lack of commitment to ending the conflict, strongly indicates that attacks on diplomatic installations and personnel, as well as the targeting of hospitals, hotels, other vital public and social spaces, are deliberate, systematic and tantamount to atrocities against humanity.

The Kenyan Head of State sounded a warning of the escalation of hostilities in Sudan which could implicate external, regional and international actors and degenerate into a security and humanitarian crisis on a disastrous scale.

"It is therefore critical for an international coalition of all the actors that have been involved in supporting the restoration of civilian rule in Sudan to act with urgency. The United Nations, Africa Union, IGAD and QUAD for Sudan must lead a process that extends beyond the mere cessation of hostilities towards the restoration of sustainable peace, security and stability.

"It is time to silence the guns in our region and continent so that we can focus on the urgent work of enabling our people to pursue opportunities and actualise their aspirations, in peace and tranquillity. Time is of the essence," he appealed.