Kenya's Ruto takes over Sudan crisis peace talks

NOTE, Talented cartoonist Omar Defallah always paints Hemeti with flip-flops on or near his feet. Sometimes they're pink! 

Cartoon by Omar Defallah  

Source: Radio Dabanga report 04 June 2023 ‘US/Saudi Arabian facilitators ‘stand ready to resume Jeddah talks on Sudan’

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Report at Kenyans.co.ke

By MARK OBAR 

Dated Tuesday, 13 June 2023; 11:45 am - full copy:

 

Ruto Takes Over Sudan Crisis Peace Talks After US Gives Up

Photo collage between President William Ruto and US President Joe Biden 

Speaking on Sunday, April 23, 2023. PCS POTUS

Kenya, on Monday, June 12, agreed to mediate in the Sudan conflict after efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to broker a ceasefire collapsed. 

President William Ruto stated that Kenya had a strong track record in mediating peace agreements in the region and that he was confident of ending the violence in Sudan.

In a concerted effort by  Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries, Ruto will seek to have the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) embrace new talks. 

"We will, in the next ten days, meet face to face with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan so that we can speak to them directly on behalf of IGAD, with a view of stopping the war that is raging in Sudan. 

Part of a group of students who fled Sudan on Monday, April 24, 2023. PHOTO ROSELYN NJOGU

"We will ask them to cease all manner of hostilities and ensure that we have a commitment from them to stop the war that is going on in Sudan," Ruto stated.

In the strategy designed by the IGAD security organ, President Ruto, alongside three other leaders from Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan and Somalia, will hold the talks in Nairobi. 

After the warring factions failed to agree on ending the ongoing conflict, IGAD expanded the initial team, which comprised South Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti.

Fighting resumed on Sunday, June 11, with renewed intensity following the end of a 24-hour ceasefire brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Reports indicated there were sounds of air raids, artillery shelling and machine guns barely 30 minutes after the ceasefire ended in the morning.

Through the facilitation of the United States and Saudi Arabia, Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his nemesis Mohamed Daglo Hemedti's sides had signed seven ceasefire deals, all broken within hours of declaration.

“The Sudanese Armed Forces (Saf) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) demonstrated effective command and control over their forces, resulting in reduced fighting throughout Sudan that enabled the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance and the achievement of some confidence building measures,’ a statement from the Jeddah talks read.

Mediations which were ongoing in Jeddah, and facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the US, were suspended, with mediators accusing parties of lacking seriousness. The US, however, was open to negotiating the talks afresh once assured that the warring factions had considered the gravity of the matter.

The UN estimated that at least 1,800 people were killed and more than 5,100 have been injured as of June 12, 2023. More than 200,000 people were also displaced from their homes.

Defence CS, Aden Duale, receives Kenyans who were rescued from Sudan by Kenya Air Force on April 25, 2023. PHOTO ADEN DUALE

View original: https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/90330-ruto-takes-over-sudan-crisis-peace-talks-after-us-gives

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Sudan Watch Editor Postscript:

This fun-fact tweet puts the latest news on the US-Saudi led ceasefire talks and US sanctions in a nutshell and saves me having to curate and publish ten long reads for posterity here at Sudan Watch...

Ive lost track of the number of times that the US has threatened to cancel or suspend the Jeddah talks…getting close to the same number of times they have threatened sanctions. https://t.co/PtmIiBJ4Ud

— Cameron Hudson (@_hudsonc) June 17, 2023

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IGAD picks Kenya to spearhead peace, democratic transition in Sudan

NOTE, This means that Nairobi, Kenya (where UN SRSG Volker Perthes has set up an office :) will begin hosting delegations of politicians, civil society, community-based organisations and opinion leaders to deliberate on returning Sudan to the democratic process. Friendly Kenyans are popular.

Interestingly, Kenya-South Sudan relations are bilateral relations between South Sudan and Kenya. South Sudan is a strategic partner of Kenya in many areas. Both countries have cultural similarities as many people from South Sudan lived in Kenya before independence. 

Read more in the report here below.

Photo: When Kenya President William Ruto  shook hands with South Sudan President Salva Kiir after he was inaugurated as the 5th president of Kenya at Kasarani Stadium. [PCS]

Source: The Standard 1mo ago ’Sudan violence: Ruto, Kiir and Guelleh to broker peace deal in Khartoum’  

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Report at The Standard standardmedia.co.ke

By Jacob Ng’etich 

Dated Tuesday 13 June 2023 - full copy:

Igad picks Kenya to spearhead peace, democratic transition in Sudan

Photo: When Malik Agar, deputy leader Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council signs visitors book after he arrived at JKIA on May 28, 2023. [Mwangi Maina, Standard]

Kenya has been picked to spearhead the dialogue between warring factions in Sudan and take the conflict-ridden country towards a democratic political dispensation at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) summit in Djibouti.

This means that Nairobi will begin hosting delegations of politicians, civil society, community-based organistions and opinion leaders to deliberate on returning Sudan to the democratic process.

During consultations with members of the Igad High-Level Delegation on the ongoing political situation in Sudan, they agreed that Kenya should commence a two-track conflict resolution process in the interim to resolve the current crisis and bring the voice and aspirations of the people of Sudan for a democratic transition in line with the Political Framework Agreement.

"Revitalizing the dialogue towards a democratic political dispensation. As I have indicated from the start Kenya will be honored to facilitate this track. I am confident that the successful implementation of these two tracks will lead to the resumption of the final phase of the political process," said President William Ruto while making his Trilateral proposal on Sudan.

An armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan began on April 15, when clashes broke out in cities, with the fighting concentrated around the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region.

Thousands of people have been killed and many more injured following attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on government sites. Airstrikes, artillery, and gunfire were reported across Sudan including in Khartoum.

RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" and Sudan's de facto leader and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have disputed control of government sites, including the general military headquarters, the Presidential Palace, and Khartoum International Airport.

All the proposals by Kenya were adopted including the declaration of an unconditional ceasefire where Ruto noted that the step was crucial to facilitate a negotiated settlement of the dispute, preventing further loss of life, destruction of property, and damage to critical infrastructure.

The proposal he said will also ensure that the people of Sudan have access to essential public services that are necessary for their well-being.  

Other proposals adopted by the Igad special summit include the establishment of a humanitarian demilitarized green zone spanning a radius of thirty 30 to 50 kilometers in Khartoum, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the victims of the conflict and establish an IGAD-Led mechanism to monitor and provide security for the green zone. 

Ruto asked the international community to support this green/demilitarized zone and urged the UN to scale up humanitarian assistance and engage with the people committees on the ground to ensure that aid is effectively targeted and delivered to those who are in dire need of support.

The Kenyan government's proposal that was adopted was to have Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir lead a mediation between the leadership of the SAF and RSF.

"I would propose that President Kiir makes arrangements for the 3 of us to meet with the two Generals, or their representatives, at a convenient place or even virtually, to secure their commitment to peace. In order to secure the entire country, this line of action should build on the Juba process and continue engaging with all armed groups in Sudan to prevent them from becoming spoilers to the process," said Ruto.

Ruto said that the conflict continued unabated with disproportionate humanitarian crises and unprecedented negative spillover effects in our region.

"Until now, the efforts made to halt the war have been unsuccessful. Six ceasefires in total have failed to remain intact. Regrettably, the conflicting parties have not fully embraced and adhered to the ceasefire. 

Unfortunately, despite a recent announcement of a 24-hour ceasefire on Friday evening, all indications point to an escalation of the conflict since Saturday, rather than de-escalation," said the President.

Presently, Ruto said, Khartoum was experiencing extensive destruction, as strategic installations are being destroyed and residential properties are being converted into command centres and the civilian population was being forcibly engaged in the war effort.

He noted that it was disturbing that the civilians are also enduring incidents of robbery, rape, physical violation, and even murder which must be condemned, as they go against the laws of war that mandate combatants to safeguard civilians, facilitate humanitarian assistance, and protect strategic and service installations. 

"Our region is beginning to feel the effects of the war, which include the displacement of Sudanese citizens and the strain on trade relations and other forms of cooperation. As a result, it is incumbent upon us to take the lead in resolving this crisis. We must stand in solidarity with Sudan and work towards the restoration of peace and the advancement of development for its people," said Ruto.

Play video: https://youtu.be/w63KuE2wev4

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View original: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/africa/article/2001475049/igad-picks-kenya-to-spearhead-peace-democratic-transition-in-sudan

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In virtual meeting with UN aid chiefs & partners, Kenya's president rallies urgent support for Sudan

Thank you, @WilliamsRuto, for your leadership and support for urgent humanitarian action in #Sudan.

We need a strong plan moving forward to prevent the situation from further spiraling. https://t.co/ZAINbsobQn

— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) May 1, 2023

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed was among UN officials and other leaders who held a meeting with President William Ruto on Monday, May 1, to find a way forward for the Sudan crisis.

A statement from State House noted the high-level meeting, which was chaired by Ruto, was held both virtually and physically.

Ruto gave a report on the progress of conflict resolution in Sudan noting that the warring sides had declined the call of the international communities and leadership to cease fire. He added that the people of Sudan were in need of humanitarian aid noting that they did not have enough supply of food and water.

Further, he stated that the number of people displaced by the war continued to increase at an alarming rate forcing many of them to flee to other countries.

“The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has reached catastrophic levels. The protagonists have declined to heed the calls by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the international community to cease fire.

“Consequently, water, food and medicines are in short supply. Internally, the number of displaced people keeps rising as many more flee to neighbouring countries,” Ruto stated.

Full story here from Kenyans.co.ke:
UN Bosses, Other Leaders Fly to Kenya to Help Ruto Solve Sudan Crisis, Monday 1 May 2023
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/88801-un-bosses-other-leaders-fly-kenya-help-ruto-solve-sudan-crisis

IMAGE: A collage image of President William Ruto meeting with other leaders to discuss the war in Sudan on Monday May 1 2023. PCS