Kenya’s Swift Response to Sudan’s Call for War
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua explained on Monday, July 24 why Kenya had not yet issued a formal response to a video showing a Sudanese general daring President William Ruto to send the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) to the war-torn country.
Speaking to an international media outlet, TRT Afrika, the CS indicated that Kenya had not yet received the complete context of Lieutenant General Yasser Al-Atta’s remarks in the viral video.
Mutua indicated that the government cannot rely on social media information to address an issue with diplomatic implications.
The CS has confirmed that the government will take the necessary measures to determine the context of the video before issuing a formal response.
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“We are unable to confirm the authenticity of the video or whether or not the senior military officer made these statements. We also require a formal translation to comprehend what he said,” the former governor of Machakos stated.
The Sudanese general accused Ruto of interfering in their ongoing conflict in the video that went viral. Al-Atta stated that they would defeat the Kenyan forces if they were deployed.
The general asserted that Kenya financed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo a.k.a. Hemeti.
“The state (Kenya) that financially supports you (RSF) and mercenaries like you must also bring its army… leave the East African forces and intervene with your army; we are waiting for you,” he said.
Al-Atta’s remarks came weeks after Ruto refuted claims that he supported Hemedi’s faction in response to allegations that he hosted the general in one of Nairobi’s hospitals.
Ruto described the accusations as false in an interview with France 24 on June 24. Despite this, he maintained his support for a cease-fire between the contending factions, recognizing that the citizens were the ones most affected.
According to the United Nations, more than 604 persons have died in the conflict that began on April 15.
Ruto’s interview in France occurred amidst the Sudanese army’s rejection of his mediation role at the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), which is consistent with Hemedi’s RSF.
Kenya’s Swift Response to Sudan’s Call for War
