In a significant development for war-torn Sudan, the Sudan Founding Alliance was quietly established today, Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 2 a.m. in Nairobi, Kenya.
The closed-door event, a stark contrast to the earlier publicized kickoff at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), marks a pivotal step toward forming a unity government in the North African nation.
Over the past four days, key stakeholders—including representatives from over 20 political parties, 10 civil organizations, five military groups led by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and various lobby groups—have convened in Nairobi, culminating in the signing of a charter aimed at steering Sudan toward stability and renewal.
The charter outlines ambitious goals: establishing a new, inclusive Sudanese army free from political interference, ending the ongoing war, combating terrorism, and strengthening diplomatic ties with neighboring countries.
This alliance seeks to address the root causes of Sudan’s turmoil, which has seen relentless conflict since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). The war has claimed over 20,000 lives and displaced millions, drawing international concerns.
However, the event has reignited a diplomatic standoff between Kenya and Sudan. Khartoum has fiercely criticized Nairobi for hosting the summit, accusing Kenya of betraying assurances that it would not allow its soil to be used to establish a parallel government.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the move as a “hostile act,” alleging it endorses the RSF’s alleged war crimes and undermines Sudanese sovereignty. In response, Sudan recalled its ambassador to Kenya, Kamal Jubarra, signaling a deepening rift.
This follows a pattern of strained relations, with Sudan previously rejecting Kenyan President William Ruto’s mediation role in 2023 over perceived bias toward the RSF.
Despite the backlash, Ruto has been praised by some for maintaining a nonpartisan stance.
Addressing the allegations, Kenya’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that Nairobi merely provided a neutral platform for over 4,000 Sudanese stakeholders to deliberate solutions. Ruto’s administration has framed this as part of Kenya’s legacy of facilitating peace processes, citing its role in the 2005 Sudan peace talks.
Yet, the diplomatic fallout threatens Kenya’s regional standing, with potential repercussions from Sudan’s allies and Western powers like the U.S., which has sanctioned RSF leaders. As the Sudan Founding Alliance takes root, the delicate balance between peace-building and geopolitics remains under intense scrutiny.
