Sudan Slams Kenya with Envoy Recall over "Hemedti" Meeting, Throwing Relations into Turmoil

Diplomatic tremors jolted East Africa on Thursday as Sudan dramatically recalled its ambassador from Nairobi, triggering a bitter dispute with Kenya over President William Ruto's controversial meeting with Sudanese strongman, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as "Hemedti." The move paints a grim picture of deteriorating relations between the two nations, fueled by the simmering conflict in Sudan and the shadowy figure of the RSF commander.

At the epicenter of the rift stands Hemedti, a man haunted by allegations of human rights abuses in Darfur and beyond. His very presence in Kenya, let alone receiving officialdom courtesy of President Ruto, proved politically explosive for Khartoum. Sudan's acting Foreign Minister, Ali Al-Sadiq, minced no words: "We have recalled our ambassador for consultations in protest of the official reception organized for the commander of the rebel militia," he declared, leaving little doubt about Khartoum's outrage.

The underlying tensions run deeper than simple outrage. Analysts see the recall as a direct slap at Kenya's perceived tilt towards Hemedti, considered a direct rival to Sudan's fragile transitional government led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. The two military figures have been embroiled in a bitter power struggle since April 2023, casting a long shadow over Sudan's political landscape.

Kenya, however, maintains its diplomatic armor. A government spokesperson, with practiced neutrality, framed the meeting as "routine diplomatic engagements" aimed at fostering "regional peace and stability." They conveniently forgot to mention Hemedti's checkered past or the potential political minefield it created by welcoming him.

But Sudan's dramatic response lays bare the cracks in this narrative. Recalling an ambassador is no light matter, signaling a deep wound in bilateral relations. Whether Kenya's gamble on Hemedti bridges the divide or opens a chasm, only time will tell. One thing is certain: the road to regional stability just got bumpier, and the shadow of conflict in Sudan looms larger than ever.