Because of Tea… Kenya Flirts with Sudan

Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Korir Sengwe Oye confirmed that he reassured the Sudanese Chargé d’Affaires in Nairobi, Mohamed Okasha, that his country’s regime always aims to achieve peace and unity in Sudan.

According to the Kenyan newspaper, The Star, Nairobi is making efforts to ease diplomatic tensions with Khartoum after months of disagreements. This followed a meeting between Kenyan Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Korir Sengwe Oye and the Sudanese Chargé d’Affaires in Nairobi, Mohamed Osman Okasha.

Okasha assumed his duties after the Sudanese government severed diplomatic relations with Kenya last February and withdrew Ambassador Kamal Jubara in protest over Nairobi’s hosting of rebel militia forces.

According to the newspaper, the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary explained that his country always works for a unified and peaceful Sudan, saying: “I thank the Sudanese side for its willingness to engage in dialogue to foster the understanding necessary for fruitful cooperation.”

For his part, Kenyan Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi affirmed his country’s desire to resume economic partnership with Sudan after the situation stabilizes following Khartoum’s imposition of a trade ban on a number of Kenyan products, including tea.