Sing’Oei Explains Why Kenya Appears to Favour Sudan’s RSF

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei has explained why Kenya faces accusations of favouring Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He acknowledged that the paramilitary group has used Nairobi more frequently than Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF).

Speaking on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Sing’Oei defended Kenya’s involvement in efforts to resolve Sudan’s conflict. His remarks come amid controversy over Nairobi’s engagement with RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti.

The controversy has also included reports that individuals linked to the RSF received Kenyan travel documents. However, Sing’Oei insisted that Kenya had offered both warring sides equal opportunities to participate in mediation efforts.

“Both SAF and RSF have had equal access to Nairobi. Whatever facilitation they have needed,” he said. He added that the RSF’s more frequent presence in Kenya had contributed to perceptions of government bias.

“RSF has used Nairobi more. Okay? That has created this perception, but it has nothing to do with our being partisan or being pro-RSF,” Sing’Oei stated.

Sing’Oei Addresses Kenyan Travel Documents

The Principal Secretary also defended the reported issuance of special travel documentation to people associated with the RSF. He explained that governments sometimes facilitate travel for conflict participants seeking involvement in peace negotiations.

According to Sing’Oei, such arrangements form part of established international mediation practices. He maintained that the documents were subject to controls rather than being distributed without proper oversight.

“And sometimes, by the way, as states, to facilitate combatants who want to engage in mediation, sometimes we give them a specific type of travelling documentation,” he said. Sing’Oei added that the practice had occurred historically and continued in international diplomacy.

He further maintained that Kenya would consider similar requests from Sudan’s military. Any such documentation, he explained, would follow a specific process and remain subject to tracking.

“If the requests come from SAF’s side, the Kenyan government would have considered that a very specific type of travel documentation that is tracked,” he stated. He described the documents as facilitative instruments intended to support mediation.

RSF Engagement Triggered Diplomatic Tensions

Kenya’s engagement with the RSF and its leader has previously attracted criticism from Sudan’s military-backed government. The dispute intensified in February 2025, when RSF-linked groups and allied political factions met in Nairobi.

Those groups signed a charter proposing the establishment of a parallel administration in Sudan. The gathering prompted strong objections from Sudan’s military-backed authorities.

In March 2025, Sudan suspended imports from Kenya following Nairobi’s hosting of the RSF and its allies. The move escalated diplomatic tensions and disrupted trade relations between the two countries.

Kenya Defends Its Mediation Role

Despite the criticism, Sing’Oei rejected claims that Kenya’s international standing was weakening. He argued that the country remained an important participant in regional diplomacy and peace initiatives.

“There is no question that Kenya’s standing internationally has grown over the years,” he said. He pointed to Kenya’s engagement in efforts involving Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Sing’Oei also highlighted Kenya’s work through the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). He said regional institutions remained important in building trust and encouraging dialogue between opposing parties.

The PS cited diplomatic engagement involving Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan as part of Kenya’s wider regional approach. He also referred to efforts to connect the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes addressing the DRC conflict.

Those initiatives were subsequently incorporated into an African Union-led process linked to the Washington Accord. Sing’Oei acknowledged that mediation remained challenging because conflicting parties could interpret contact with their opponents as favouritism.

He maintained that Kenya’s objective was to provide a platform for negotiations rather than support either side. The government’s handling of the Sudan conflict, however, continues to attract scrutiny over its diplomatic relationships and mediation practices.