The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that it had recalled its ambassador to Kenya, Kamal Jubbara, in protest against the official reception hosted by the Kenyan government for Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemetti,” the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on Wednesday.

In a statement to the Sudan News Agency, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq stated that Sudan had recalled its ambassador for consultations to express its strong disapproval of the Kenyan government’s “official reception of the leader of the rebel militia (Hemetti) upon his visit there yesterday.”

Al-Sadiq further condemned Kenya for failing to acknowledge the “terrible abuses” committed by the RSF, including the destruction of infrastructure, the country’s capabilities, and civilians’ property.

He said that the consultations with the ambassador would explore all possible avenues regarding the future of Sudan’s relations with “Kenya, which has been accused of supporting the rebellion in Sudan, hosting its leaders and supporters, and conspiring with hostile regional powers against Sudan”.

Over the past few days, Hemetti has met with the leaders of Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and South Africa. He received official receptions with a guard of honours at the Addis Ababa airport, while he was welcomed with traditional dances at Nairobi airport before meeting President William Ruto at the presidential palace.

In contrast, the receptions hosted by President Museveni and President Cyril Ramaphosa were limited to their respective private residences, outside the presidential palaces.

Prior to this incident, Sudan’s Sovereign Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had warned against treating the commander of the RSF, which is engaged in hostilities against the Sudanese army, as a legitimate representative of the Sudanese state. He had also stated that Sudan would take “appropriate measures” in response to such a reception.

It is worth noting that all heads of diplomatic missions have left Sudan and have chosen to establish offices in Port Sudan instead.

Sudan had already rejected Kenya’s chairmanship of an IGAD quartet group tasked with the resolution of the Sudanese conflict. The military-led government said that Ruto had a business relationship with Hemetti and he was not neutral.