Sudan has imposed a total ban on imports from Kenya in response to Nairobi’s decision to host leaders of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are engaged in a prolonged war against the Sudanese army.
The move follows a meeting in Kenya last month, where the RSF and its allied groups signed a charter expressing their intent to establish a separate government in Sudan.
Citing national security concerns, Sudan’s military authorities said the ban was necessary to uphold the country’s sovereignty.
Kenya has been a key supplier of essential goods to Sudan, including tea, food, and medicine, all of which are now affected by the suspension.
“The import of all products coming from Kenya through all ports, crossings, airports, and ports will be suspended as of this day until further notice,” Sudan’s trade ministry declared in an official decree, instructing authorities to enforce the decision without delay.
Relations between the two nations have been deteriorating in recent months.
President William Ruto has faced growing criticism at home over his government’s engagement with the RSF, raising concerns about Kenya’s role in Sudan’s internal conflict.
Last month, Sudan withdrew its ambassador from Nairobi, accusing Kenya of facilitating the RSF’s bid to establish a rival administration actions Khartoum described as “tantamount to an act of hostility.”
Kenyan authorities, however, have defended their position, stating that their involvement was aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict and was done “without any ulterior motives.”
Despite the diplomatic standoff, Kenya and Sudan have long maintained strong trade relations, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.
Kenya’s biggest export to Sudan is tea, followed by coffee, tobacco, soaps, electrical goods, and pharmaceuticals.
Tea, one of Kenya’s leading foreign exchange earners, is expected to be hit hard by the import ban.
“This ban will be a big blow, and foreign exchange will take a hit. It would mean less foreign exchange and greater exposure to financial services. It has a ripple effect that extends beyond just trade,” economist Ken Gichinga told the BBC.
The Kenyan government has not yet officially responded to the ban, but Agriculture Minister Mutahi Kagwe recently indicated that diplomatic efforts were underway to resolve the situation.
Even before the latest tensions, Kenya’s tea exports to Sudan had been struggling.
A recent analysis showed a 12% drop in tea exports to Sudan over the past year, largely due to the ongoing war.
Since fighting erupted in April 2023, Sudan’s economy has been in turmoil, with supply chains severely disrupted and businesses struggling to function.
Key trade routes, including border crossings and ports, have been either damaged or rendered inaccessible by the violence, making it increasingly difficult for goods to move between Sudan and neighbouring countries, including Kenya.
The war has devastated much of Sudan, including the capital, Khartoum. The United Nations estimates that thousands have lost their lives, while over 12 million people have been displaced.
