- Ruto sympathised with the Sudan people saying the region bears deep scars of conflict and war.
- Kenya, he stated, has a strong track record in effectively facilitating peacemaking and settlement of political conflict.
Image: COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS /TWITTER
President William Ruto has announced that Kenya is ready to host a process of mediation between the parties to the Sudan peace agreement.
According to Ruto, this was a show of Kenya’s commitment and support to having a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the nation.
While thanking the two warring sides for submitting to the Political Framework Agreement (PFA) to cease hostilities as has been called for, Ruto said this was a signal of goodwill and a commitment to bringing back peace.
“We make this offer in the spirit of brotherhood, peace and solidarity as an acceptable neutral venue and also as an engaged stakeholder well-seized with the challenges facing our region,” Ruto said in a statement Friday.
Kenya, he stated, has a strong track record in effectively facilitating peacemaking and settlement of the political conflict.
“We invite the parties to take full advantage of this opportunity and urge IGAD, AU and the UN to mobilise an effective international coalition to support a comprehensive peacemaking agenda for Sudan,” said the President.
During a virtual Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) meeting on April 16 on the Sudan conflict, President Ruto, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, and Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti were tasked with brokering a ceasefire in the country.
African Union’s Emergency Ministerial meeting on the situation in the country was also held in Ethiopia on April 20.
Fighting erupted on April 15, between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital, Khartoum before spreading to other cities including Darfur.
The clashes follow weeks of rising tensions between the two forces over security force reform during negotiations for a new transitional government and was preceded by the SAF and RSF jointly overthrowing Sudan’s transitional government in October 2021.
Military leaders Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of RSF have since agreed to end the fighting and pursue dialogue following the increased calls and pressure from the regional leaders.
Calling on the two leaders to commit themselves to the talks, Ruto used the opportunity to convey what he has termed as “numerous pleas and emphatic calls from our brothers and sisters in Sudan, the people of our region and the international community” on the need for a ceasefire.
“Your commitment to mediation will restore peace and stability to Sudan within a short time,” said the head of state.
Sympathizing with the people of Sudan, Ruto noted that the region bears deep scars of conflict and war.
The stability in Sudan, he argued, will transform the Horn of Africa and Eastern Africa in general into a peaceful and secure hub of productivity, globally competitive industry and sustainable shared prosperity.
“Kenya is strongly persuaded that a peacefully negotiated solution to the conflict in Sudan is within reach and, as always, stands ready to make our contribution,” he added.