Kenya’s diplomatic credentials are under scrutiny following its involvement in various conflicts and diplomatic disputes in the region, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan. This has raised concerns about the potential erosion of its diplomatic standing. 

Diplomatic missteps have left the country bruised, with Raila Odinga’s failed bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship being the latest case in point.

Analysts believe that the government’s foreign policy is somehow alienating the country from its regional allies, case in point – the Sudan war, DRC conflict, and Israel-Gaza conflict, among other diplomatic goofing.

Earlier in the week, Sudan’s military-led government condemned Kenya’s decision to allow the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied factions to hold a meeting in Nairobi, calling it an “endorsement” of the paramilitary group that has been locked in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, the Sudan Junta vowed unspecified action over RSF “endorsement” and accused Kenya of facilitating an effort to establish a parallel government within Sudan.

They said the Kenyan government disregarded its obligations under international law, the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by hosting the event of signing a political agreement between the terrorist Janjaweed militia – responsible for ongoing acts of genocide in Sudan – and its affiliated individuals and groups.

The statement labelled RSF as a terrorist group, stating that the move promotes the dismembering of African States, which violates their sovereignty and interferes with their internal affairs. “This is, therefore, a clear breach of the UN Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the established principles of the contemporary international order.”

The Junta, which has been governing from Port Sudan, further accused Kenya of violating its commitment to good neighbourliness and reneging on its pledges not to allow hostile activities against Sudan from within its borders.

Kenya has defended itself by stating that it aligns with the African Union (AU) Charter on the Unconstitutional Change of Government and the October 27, 2021, AU decision suspending Sudan from all AU activities, including the just-ended AUC elections.

“The need for a delicate balance between security objectives and a return to civilian rule in Sudan should be prioritised to achieve democracy and prosperity for the people of Sudan,” Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi said in a statement.   

He noted this is not the first time groups in Sudan have sought solutions to their crisis by leveraging the good offices of neighbouring countries. “Indeed, in January 2024, parties and stakeholders to the Sudanese conflict met in a neighbouring country to chart a way forward on inclusive dialogue and return to civilian rule. Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese civilian group’s tabling of a roadmap and proposed leadership in Nairobi is compatible with Kenya’s role in peace negotiation, which enjoins her to provide non-partisan platforms to conflict parties to seek resolutions,” the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s statement further stated.

The Kenyan government reiterated its solidarity with the people of Sudan as they define their destiny and future political governance through inclusive dialogue. Kenya has said it remains ready, individually and collectively through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), AU, and other regional mechanisms, to support efforts agreed upon by the people of Sudan in ensuring stability and prosperity of their country and the Horn of Africa region.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council and General Commander of the Sudanese army, rejected Kenya’s chairmanship of an IGAD committee tasked with resolving the Sudanese crisis.

The Sudanese military officials claimed that Kenya was not neutral in the Sudanese conflict, alleging that President William Ruto has a business relationship with the RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemedti”.

The DRC

The country’s ambition to be the driving force behind peace in eastern DRC has exposed Kenya’s diplomatic principles. The DRC’s persistent refusal to accredit the Kenyan envoy has highlighted a deeper crisis that is rooted in mistrust and strategic miscalculations.

The strained relationship was evident a few weeks ago when demonstrators, on January 28, stormed embassies and started fires in the capital, Kinshasa, in an eruption of protests over a Rwandan-backed rebel offensive in the east part of DRC.

The protesters targeted Western and African countries, including Kenya, which they accused of involvement in Kigali’s support of M23 rebels. After taking over two key cities of Goma and Bukavu, the rebels are advancing on strategic zones in the eastern DRC. Although the protest was primarily anti-Rwanda, Kenya became collateral damage, a symbol of perceived neutrality in a conflict where taking sides matters.

The country’s troubles in the DRC began with its leadership of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF), which was deployed to eastern Congo in late 2020 to contain the M23 forces.

Months later, the DRC government started to accuse the EACRF of being too soft on the M23 rebels. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi publicly criticised EACRF for “cohabiting with M23” rather than confronting them militarily. This perceived inaction led to widespread frustration in Kinshasa, culminating in the unilateral termination of the EACRF mandate in December 2023.

 Stepping in with its military deployment, SAMIDRC, Southern African Development Community (SADC), is now actively engaging in combat operations against M23 rebels. This shift left Kenya on the sidelines and eroded the country’s military and diplomatic influence in the DRC crisis.

Additionally, in late 2023, Kenya hosted a coalition of Congolese armed groups, including M23, in Nairobi. This move further strained Nairobi’s relationship with Kinshasa. During the meeting, these groups announced the formation of the Congo River Alliance, which has turned out to be a political and diplomatic disaster for Kenya.

DRC considered this as an act of providing a platform for their political and military opponents in Kenya. The timing, which was just months before the DRC’s national elections, heightened tensions, cementing mistrust between the two countries.

Way forward

If Kenya hopes to reclaim its role as a key regional peace broker, it must act swiftly or risk becoming irrelevant.

Analysts opine that Kenya must build effective diplomacy through trust, which can only be developed through consistency and impartiality