By Steve El Sabai
Sudan has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Kenya, announcing that the process of lifting the ban on Kenyan tea exports has reached its final stages and that plans are underway to restore direct flights between Nairobi and Khartoum, while calling for international accountability over atrocities committed in El Fasher.
Addressing the press in Nairobi on Wednesday, the Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to Kenya, Kamal Gubara Mohamed Salih, outlined the three developments as significant aspects of Sudan’s engagement with Kenya and the international community, underscoring the importance of advancing mutually beneficial cooperation while remaining steadfast in the pursuit of justice for victims of conflict.
The briefing brought together two important dimensions of Sudan’s current engagement: the solemn duty to remember the victims of the El Fasher massacre and the diplomatic imperative to strengthen bilateral ties through trade, connectivity and economic cooperation.
Ambassador Salih condemned atrocities allegedly committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against civilians in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, describing the reported acts as grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The commemoration marked one year since the RSF seized control of the city on October 26, 2025, following an 18-month siege that, according to the Embassy, left civilians deprived of food, medicine and other essential supplies.
The Embassy stated that the takeover was followed by reports of mass killings, attacks on patients in hospitals, rape and sexual violence against women and girls, further deepening the humanitarian suffering of the civilian population.
Citing documentation by the United Nations Human Rights Office, the Embassy noted that more than 6,000 killings had been recorded during the first three days of the RSF’s final offensive. It said international and regional institutions had condemned the reported atrocities and called for accountability.
The Sudanese Government urged the international community to move beyond statements of condemnation and pursue concrete measures to ensure that those responsible, including individuals and entities alleged to have supported or enabled the crimes, are held accountable.
It further emphasised that civilian protection, unhindered humanitarian assistance and the prevention of further atrocities must remain central to international efforts to address the conflict.
The Embassy also paid tribute to the victims, expressing solidarity with bereaved families and the wider Sudanese population still grappling with the consequences of the war.
The commemoration carried a poignant reminder that behind every reported casualty lies a human story of lives interrupted, families separated and communities devastated by violence. The Embassy stressed that the suffering endured by the people of El Fasher must not be consigned to history without accountability and justice.
Turning to bilateral cooperation, Ambassador Salih announced plans to restore direct air connectivity between Kenya and Sudan, a development expected to facilitate travel and deepen commercial and people-to-people relations.
The Embassy disclosed that Jubba Airways, following consultations with the diplomatic mission and representatives of the travel industry, had announced plans to introduce direct flights between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Khartoum International Airport.
The service is targeted for launch in the first week of December 2026, subject to the completion of the necessary operational and aviation arrangements and confirmation of the final schedule. The proposed service is expected to operate twice weekly.
The planned resumption of direct flights represents a practical step towards strengthening relations between the two countries by improving accessibility for business travellers, investors, tourists, families and other passengers.
For the business community, the route could ease the movement of people and support more frequent commercial engagements, helping traders and investors identify opportunities in both markets. It could also reduce the inconvenience associated with indirect travel and encourage closer exchanges between the two populations.
The Embassy welcomed Jubba Airways’ initiative and commended the cooperation of the airline and other stakeholders in advancing the proposed service.
The development reflects the importance of transport connectivity as an enabler of diplomacy and economic partnership. However, the launch remains subject to the finalisation of operational arrangements, with the public expected to receive further information once the airline confirms its schedule.
In a development of particular significance to Kenya’s agricultural sector, the Embassy announced that the process of lifting the ban on Kenyan tea exports to Sudan had reached its final stages.
Ambassador Salih’s announcement followed sustained appeals from Kenyan stakeholders, including tea farmers, traders, exporters and representatives of organisations within the tea industry, according to the statement.
The progress offers renewed prospects for the restoration of trade between the two countries and could provide Kenyan exporters with an opportunity to re-establish commercial links with the Sudanese market.
Kenya’s tea industry remains an important pillar of the national economy, sustaining livelihoods across farming communities and supporting employment in processing, logistics, marketing and export services. Access to international markets is therefore essential to maintaining demand, expanding commercial opportunities and strengthening the wider agricultural value chain.
For farmers and exporters, the anticipated lifting of the ban represents a potentially important step towards restoring market access and rebuilding trade relationships affected by the restrictions.
The Embassy said the development had generated fresh momentum for business communities in both countries to resume engagement and prepare for a new phase of mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
The prospect of renewed tea exports, coupled with the planned restoration of direct flights, presents an opportunity for Kenya and Sudan to strengthen commercial engagement through improved market access, transport connectivity and closer collaboration between their respective business communities.
Amb.Kamal underscored the complementary nature of the three issues, bringing together the pursuit of justice for victims of conflict and efforts to advance practical cooperation between Sudan and Kenya.
While the commemoration of the El Fasher massacre reaffirmed the importance of civilian protection, accountability and humanitarian solidarity, the developments in aviation and tea trade highlighted opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations through initiatives with tangible economic and social benefits.
For Kenya, the anticipated reopening of the Sudanese market to tea exports could provide fresh opportunities for farmers and traders, while direct flights could facilitate business, tourism and family travel. For Sudan, closer engagement with Kenya offers an avenue to reinforce commercial ties and expand cooperation with a longstanding regional partner.
The Embassy expressed appreciation to the stakeholders contributing to the proposed initiatives and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing practical measures that advance the mutual interests of the two nations.
As the proposed December launch of direct flights approaches and the process of lifting the tea export ban nears completion, attention will turn to translating the announcements into concrete outcomes.
The overarching message was that diplomatic relations must be sustained through both principled engagement and practical cooperation. While justice for the victims of El Fasher remains an urgent concern, progress in trade and connectivity offers an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Sudan and Kenya and create meaningful benefits for their citizens.
