Kenyan President William Ruto Says Somalia Instability Forced Delay of Border Reopening as Nairobi Pushes for Diplomatic Solution in Sudan.
NAIROBI, KENYA — (Horn post) Kenyan President William Ruto has said plans to reopen Kenya’s border with Somalia have been delayed due to renewed instability and political tensions inside Somalia, while also calling for urgent diplomatic action to end the war in Sudan.
Speaking in an interview with France 24 during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Ruto said Kenya had initially made progress toward reopening the Somalia border, which has remained largely closed for 15 years, before fighting between Somalia’s federal government and regional forces near the Kenyan frontier escalated.
Ruto said clashes between the Somali National Army and forces from Jubaland complicated security conditions along the border, with some Somali soldiers reportedly crossing into Kenya during the conflict.
“We had to support members of the Somali National Army and help stabilize the situation,” Ruto said, adding that worsening political uncertainty in Mogadishu had further delayed efforts to normalize border operations.
The Kenyan leader noted that disagreements between Somalia’s federal government and regional states, combined with concerns over expiring political mandates, had created an increasingly fragile situation.
Ruto said Kenya, alongside Ethiopia and Djibouti, continues efforts to mediate between Somali stakeholders and promote regional stability.
“For the time being, the border is not open,” he said.
Ruto Rejects Claims of Supporting Sudan’s RSF
On Sudan, Ruto rejected accusations from the Sudanese military leadership that Kenya was supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti.
Ruto described the allegations as “completely untrue,” saying multiple countries had faced similar accusations amid the conflict.
The Kenyan president blamed both the Sudanese Armed Forces under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF for plunging Sudan into humanitarian catastrophe following their fallout after the 2021 coup.
“The humanitarian suffering, displacement, and destruction in Sudan are unprecedented,” Ruto said.
He called for stronger regional diplomacy and confirmed ongoing consultations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and other regional leaders to push Sudan’s rival factions back to the negotiating table.
Ruto said Kenya would continue working with regional and international partners, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates, to seek a political solution to the conflict.
Africa Forward Summit Focuses on Investment and Partnerships
During the interview, Ruto also praised French President Emmanuel Macron for reshaping France-Africa relations through the Africa Forward Summit, saying the event emphasized investment, business, and private-sector cooperation instead of traditional political frameworks.
He highlighted new agreements involving renewable energy, higher education, and port investments in Kenya, including plans for the country’s first nuclear power plant using French technology.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff
News Deska Hargeisa
