Kenya’s Spy Chief Delivers Presidential Message to Riyadh

Kenya’s top intelligence official, Noordin Haji, was dispatched to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, bearing a special message from President William Ruto to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

The message was received by Saudi’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereji, representing Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

According to sources close to Middle East diplomacy, the discussions during Haji’s visit centered around the conflict in Sudan. Additionally, feedback from the recent meeting between President Ruto and Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was a key focus.

The meeting between President Ruto and al-Burhan earlier this week resulted in a significant development with both leaders pledging their support for the Jeddah peace process aimed at resolving the conflict in Sudan.

This diplomatic move was seen as one that aimed at easing tensions between the two leaders, after al-Burhan accused the Kenyan leader of harboring the paramilitary RSF officials in Nairobi.

Al-Burhan had previously accused Nairobi of siding with his opponent, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Hemedti, leader of the Rapid Support Forces, who has been in conflict with the Sudanese army. The clashes, ongoing since April 15, have resulted in a significant number of casualties, with over 9,500 reported dead.

The visit by Sudanese military leader to Nairobi came after a series of diplomatic exchanges between the two capitals. President Ruto had earlier covertly met Mini Arko Minnawi, the Governor of Darfur in Nairobi, and Abdelwahad Mohamed Nuur.

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