A senior general in the Sudanese army vehemently rejected an initiative led by Kenya to deploy peacekeeping forces from East Africa to help end the conflict in Sudan, which has been ongoing for over 100 days.
In a video released on Monday, the general stated that any such forces would not leave the country alive.
The Sudanese army and the quasi-military Rapid Support Forces have received several mediation offers from the international community, but none have succeeded in putting an end to the fighting that erupted on April 15th or even significantly curbing it.
Earlier this month, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc in East Africa that includes Kenya, proposed an initiative that involved deploying peacekeeping forces in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
The Sudanese army has repeatedly rejected Kenya's initiative, accusing it of supporting the Rapid Support Forces.
They firmly stated that they would consider any foreign peacekeeping forces as hostile forces.
Major General Yasser Al-Atta, the assistant to the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, addressed soldiers, saying, "Let East African forces stay in their place... the Kenyan army wants to come, let them come," and he pledged that none of these forces would return.
In response to the Sudanese commander's remarks, Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister, Cyrus Oguna, told Reuters, "This statement does not deserve a comment from us." He further clarified that the accusations had no basis, and Kenya remains neutral.
Meanwhile, the fighting continued in the Khartoum state on Monday, with at least 15 people reported killed in airstrikes in Omdurman, according to a neighborhood committee.
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