Kenya’s president pledges to support peace process in Sudan

January 10, 2023 (NAIROBI) – Kenya’s President William Ruto said he fully supports last year’s Political Framework Agreement signed between the Transitional Sovereignty Council and the civilian political actors in Sudan.

Ruto reaffirmed a strong commitment to a peaceful future for Sudan, saying the agreement sets out a foundation for broad-based consultations.

“It is in this regard that Kenya welcomes such broad-based Consultations between the Signatories to the Framework Agreement which are already ongoing in Khartoum,” Ruto said in a statement issued Tuesday.

He added, “Exploring solutions to outstanding issues such as Security Sector Reforms and decisions on the future political system of the country.”

According to the Kenyan leader, peace in Sudan is critical for the prosperity and stability of the Horn of Africa and the continent.

On December 5, 2022, Sudan’s ruling military council and political forces signed a framework agreement meant to resolve the country’s long crisis.

The deal was signed by the head of the Sovereign Council of Sudan, Gen. Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and a number of rebel movements.

The agreement pledges a 2-year transition period and the appointment of a civilian prime minister by the political parties that signed the framework agreement.

It also calls for the reform of the military and defense sector, unifying the military and integrating the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the army.

The framework agreement was signed amid mass protests staged by pro-democracy demonstrators in Khartoum to show their opposition to the accord.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021 when the military ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency.

(ST)