Sudan prohibits all Kenya imports on RSF links

Sudan has suspended all imports of Kenya in protest after the paramilitary rapid support forces (RSF), who fight against the army in a two -year civil war, were organized in Nairobi.

Last month, the RSF and its political groups and armed allies signed a founding letter in Kenya, expressing the intention of forming a parallel government in Sudan.

The Sudan Military Government said the import prohibition was to preserve the sovereignty of the country and “protect its national security.”

The country devastated by the war imports several products from Kenya, including tea, food and pharmaceutical products.

“The importation of all products from Kenya through all ports, crosses, airports and ports will be suspended until this day until further notice,” said a decree issued by the Ministry of Commerce of Sudan.

He ordered “all relevant authorities to enforce the prohibition immediately.”

Tensions between Kenya and Sudan have increased for several months.

The president of Kenya, William Ruto, has faced generalized criticism at home for his narrow links perceived with the RSF.

Last month, Sudan remembered his ambassador to Kenya in protest against Nairobi’s participation in a “conspiracy to establish a government” for the RSF.

Sudan called Kenya’s organization of RSF meetings “equivalent to an act of hostility.”

But Kenya defended her role, stating that organizing meetings was part of the efforts to find solutions to end war in Sudan “for no hidden reason.”

Both countries have traditionally enjoyed strong commercial relations, and Kenya is an important partner for Sudan, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.

Kenya exports a variety of products to Sudan, being tea its most significant export, followed by coffee, tobacco and other products such as soaps, electrical equipment and pharmaceutical products.

Tea is one of Kenya’s most important currency winners, and this movement is expected to interrupt both commercial flows and the economy in general.

“This prohibition will be a great blow, and the currencies will receive a blow. It would mean less currencies and greater exposure to financial services. It has a domino effect that extends beyond trade,” said economist Ken Gichinga to the BBC.

Kenya’s government has not yet commented on the ban, but the Minister of Agriculture, Mutahi Kagwe, recently said that his country was exploring diplomatic roads to address market access challenges in Sudan.

The ban comes at a time when Kenya tea exports were already fighting due to the conflict in Sudan.

A recent report showed a 12% reduction in Kenyan tea exports to Sudan during the past year.

The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has caused generalized destruction, interrupting supply chains and limiting the capacity of companies to operate normally.

Ports and border crossings, vital for trade, have been damaged or obstructed by violence, significantly reducing the flow of goods between Sudan and its neighbors, including Kenya.

The conflict has devastated large parts of Sudan, including the capital Jardtum, with thousands of murdered people and more than 12 million displaced people, according to the United Nations.