SUDAN’S ’s ARMY ACCUSED OF SABOTAGING PEACE EFFORTS AT KOFI ANNAN NAIROBI SYMPOSIUM.
BY NJOKI KARANJA
NAIROBI, Sept 11, 2025.
International and African leaders meeting at a high-level symposium in Nairobi have accused the Sudanese army of deliberately obstructing peace initiatives and pursuing a military path that threatens to prolong the devastating war in Sudan.
The two-day forum, convened by the Kofi Annan Foundation in partnership with Amina Life and the Maghreb-African Center, brought together diplomats, former African ministers, UN officials, and Sudanese political figures. Delegates said the army’s repeated boycott of peace platforms — from the Jeddah Forum in 2023 to the Manama and Geneva talks — has undermined opportunities for dialogue and allowed the conflict to spiral.
Speakers warned that the army, backed by extremist Islamist factions, has abandoned peaceful solutions in favor of new arms deals with Iran, Turkey, and most recently Pakistan. Former Tunisian foreign minister and ex-UN envoy Mongi Hamdi cautioned that Sudan risks becoming a magnet for extremist groups such as ISIS, with militias from Ethiopia, Chad, and Tigray already fighting alongside Sudanese forces. He also urged investigations into allegations of chemical weapons use.
Former Kenyan foreign minister Amina Mohamed, now president of the Omnia Life Organization, stressed the catastrophic humanitarian toll, with millions displaced and women disproportionately affected. She urged the African Union (AU) and IGAD to take the lead in pressing for peace, saying: “Africa must be the platform that finds a solution to the Sudanese crisis.”
UN humanitarian representative Twabia Gomo revealed that more than 10 million people have fled Sudan since fighting erupted in April 2023, warning that 75 percent of women face severe health and safety risks.
Delegates from Sudan’s Democratic Alliance “Sumud” accused the Islamist movement of fueling the war to regain power, using hate speech and divisive rhetoric to mobilize fighters. Spokesman Bakri Al-Jak insisted that a military solution is “illogical and will only lead to new wars,” calling instead for a civilian-led transition.
The Nairobi gathering concluded with consensus that only a peaceful, AU-backed process can end the conflict. Participants urged the international community to increase pressure on the Sudanese army, hold all armed actors accountable for civilian abuses, and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
“The Sudanese war is not just a national crisis — it is a regional and global threat,” said South Sudan’s former foreign minister Barnaba Benjamin, calling for urgent African-led intervention to prevent further destabilization of the Horn of Africa.
The Kofi Annan Foundation and its partners said they would continue efforts to place Sudan firmly back on the African and international peace agenda, warning that without immediate action, the war could entrench chaos across the region.
