The decree, issued by Sudan’s Acting Minister of Trade and Supplies, Omar Ahmed Mohamed Ali, halts imports from Kenya through all entry points, including ports, airports, and border crossings, effective immediately until further notice.

The controversy stems from a political charter signed by the RSF and its allies on February 22 in Nairobi, where they expressed plans to establish a "parallel government" in Sudan.

Sudan’s government condemned Kenya’s role in hosting the event, accusing it of supporting the RSF, which has been in conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023.

The Sudanese authorities referred to Kenya’s actions as interference in Sudan’s internal affairs and a violation of international norms.

In response, Kenya’s Foreign Ministry defended its actions, emphasizing that its role in hosting the RSF was in line with its commitment to providing a neutral platform for peace negotiations between conflicting parties.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to significant loss of life, with over 29,000 reported deaths by the end of 2024, according to crisis monitoring groups.

Sudan has announced a ban on all imports from Kenya, citing the latter's involvement in hosting activities related to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in late February.