Sudan’s Ministry of Trade and Supply has announced an immediate suspension of all imports from Kenya, citing Nairobi’s recent engagements with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies.
The move marks a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The decision follows Kenya’s hosting of discussions on February 23 involving the RSF and various political factions, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, sections of the Revolutionary Front, the National Umma Party, and other political entities.
These meetings led to the signing of a political charter and a transitional constitution, laying the groundwork for an alternative authority in RSF-controlled regions. The development drew widespread criticism both domestically and internationally.
In response, Sudan has taken a series of diplomatic and economic retaliatory measures. The Foreign Ministry recalled its ambassador from Nairobi and subsequently imposed a ban on Kenyan imports, with a particular focus on tea.
A decree issued by Sudan’s Trade Minister Omar Ahmed Mohamed ordered the suspension of all Kenyan-origin products through all entry points, including ports, crossings, and airports, with immediate effect. The directive was backed by Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2024 and Cabinet Decision No. 104 of 2021, following recommendations from a cabinet committee reviewing Kenya’s involvement with the RSF and its allies.
Sudanese officials have justified the import ban as a measure to protect national security, uphold sovereignty, and safeguard the country’s broader interests.
The economic implications of this decision could be significant for Kenya, given Sudan’s role as a key export market. Sudan ranks as the tenth-largest global importer of Kenyan tea and the second-largest African market for the product. Trade data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) indicates that Kenya exported $48.2 million worth of goods to Sudan in 2023, with tea accounting for $29.6 million, followed by processed tobacco ($3.66 million) and seed oils ($1.84 million).
Kenyan exports to Sudan have been on a downward trajectory, declining at an annualized rate of 7.07% over the past five years, from $69.5 million in 2018 to $48.2 million in 2023. The latest import suspension could further strain Kenya’s trade balance with Sudan, adding to existing economic pressures.
As diplomatic tensions persist, business stakeholders and policymakers will be closely monitoring the potential impact of the trade suspension on Kenya’s export sector and broader economic relations within the region.
