Kenyans Stranded in Sudan After Government Forced to Shut Down Embassy

Kenyans in conflict-ridden Sudan are in jeopardy after the government shut down its diplomatic facility on Sunday, June 4. 

A statement by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei announces that the closure was a result of combat in war-torn Sudan targeting diplomatic posts. The mission had stayed open to assist with the secure evacuation of Kenyans living in the Northern Eastern country. On Sunday, April 16, while hostilities were just beginning, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua revealed there were over 3,000 Kenyans residing in Sudan.

“I want to assure everyone that we have made arrangements with our national airline in case the situation in Sudan gets out of hand. We have a plane on standby for evacuation purposes if the fighting persists,” the CS stated then. 

In early May 2023, Mutua announced that the government had taken steps to ensure the safe relocation of all Kenyans. To accomplish this, diplomatic offices in Sudan remained open while many other countries closed theirs. Reports coming from the ministry indicated that 900 Kenyans had safely been brought home as part of a multi-agency mission with assistance from the Foreign Affairs and Defence ministries. The government has yet to provide an update on how many people remain in Sudan and how they will be repatriated.

On Thursday, May 11, the warring sides in Sudan consented to a ceasefire that would give room for peace negotiations and assistance. Unfortunately, the truce fell apart on Wednesday, May 31 when the military withdrew from it, blaming the paramilitary forces for not keeping up their end of the agreement.