Kenya’s diplomatic efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan are facing scrutiny amid allegations of bias and controversial engagements with rebel groups. The country, under President William Ruto’s leadership, has positioned itself as a regional mediator, but recent actions have raised concerns about its neutrality.
In the DRC, Kenya deployed troops as part of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) to stabilize the eastern region. However, the mission ended in December 2023 after Kinshasa accused the force of failing to confront the M23 rebels. Reports later emerged of Kenyan officials allegedly engaging with M23 representatives, sparking suspicions about Nairobi’s impartiality in the conflict.
Similarly, in Sudan, Kenya has been accused of favoring the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the ongoing war between the paramilitary group and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The Sudanese government has criticized Nairobi’s mediation efforts, alleging that Kenya is too close to RSF’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). These concerns led Khartoum to reject Kenya’s leadership in regional peace talks, further complicating diplomatic efforts.
President Ruto’s administration has defended its engagements, arguing that Kenya seeks peaceful resolutions through dialogue. However, critics claim that direct dealings with rebel factions could undermine its credibility as a neutral mediator. With tensions in both Sudan and the DRC still high, Kenya’s regional diplomacy is under increasing pressure to prove its impartiality