Ruto Issues 3 Demands in Latest Address Over Sudan Battle

President William Ruto addresses a conference in Nairobi on April 11, 2023.
President William Ruto addresses a conference in Nairobi on April 11, 2023.
PCS

On Wednesday evening, April 19, President William Ruto asked Sudanese warring parties to comply with three resolutions reached by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) leaders during a meeting held on Sunday.

Clashes erupted in the North African nation on Saturday, April 15, between the country’s military and a paramilitary force.

So far, more than fifty people, including civilians, have lost their lives and hundreds of others have been injured. Mary Njeri, a Kenyan woman, was among the civilians who sustained injuries.

Sera Waithera speaks about her daughter who is stranded in Sudan on Monday, April 17.
Sera Waithera speaks about her daughter who is stranded in Sudan on Monday, April 17.
K24 Digital
Photo/K24

The demands from the Kenyan Head of State included allowing unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and full corporation with an IGAD mission which is scheduled to visit Sudan.

“Kenya implores the leadership of the two parties to ensure full compliance with the resolution of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Heads of State Summit held last Sunday.

“This includes an immediate cessation of hostilities, allowing unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and extending full cooperation to the IGAD Heads of States mission when it visits Khartoum,” part of the statement from the press release read.

He also requested the international community to act with urgency to prevent the situation from escalating.

“There is a real danger that the escalation of hostilities in Sudan could implicate external, regional and international actors and degenerate into a security and humanitarian crisis on a disastrous scale. 

“It is, therefore, critical for an international coalition of all the actors that have been involved in supporting the restoration of civilian rule in Sudan to act with urgency,” the statement continued.

Ruto added that civilians and members of the diplomatic community had also been targeted by the conflicting parties. 

“We are also deeply concerned that members of the diplomatic community have been targeted and civilians, in general, have been caught in the crossfire.

“A pattern of systematic violation of established norms and principles of international humanitarian laws is clearly emerging and this situation is evolving into a threat to regional and international peace and security,” the press release read.

President William Ruto at State House on April 13, 2023.
President William Ruto at State House on April 13, 2023.
PCS