U.S. Rights Group Criticizes Kenya Over Passports Issued to Sudan’s RSF Figures

Nairobi, Kenya — Kenya’s government is under intense scrutiny after revelations that Kenyan passports may have been issued to individuals linked to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group accused of atrocities in Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict. The controversy has drawn public outrage, criticism from U.S.-based rights organisations, and urgent calls for investigation, even as the government remains largely silent on the matter.

At the centre of the scandal is the claim that Algoney Hamdan Daglo, brother of RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo — widely known as Hemedti — holds a Kenyan passport. Algoney is reported to also hold Sudanese and United Arab Emirates identification documents while being linked to logistical operations for the RSF.

The RSF has been a key player in Sudan’s brutal civil war, marked by accusations of ethnic cleansing, massacres, sexual violence, and widespread human rights violations, particularly in regions such as Darfur. Several commanders within the group — including individuals tied to documented abuses — have been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, and other Western actors.

U.S. Rights Group Speaks Out

A prominent U.S.-based human rights organisation publicly condemned the alleged issuance of Kenyan passports to sanctioned RSF associates. The group warned that such actions not only undermine international sanctions regimes but could implicate Kenyan authorities in aiding individuals linked to war crimes and sanctions evasion. They called for greater accountability and urged the global community to scrutinise Kenya’s handling of identity documents.

Critics argue that passport issuance to individuals connected to a group accused of atrocities severely damages the credibility and integrity of Kenyan travel documents. If verified, such a breach could invite diplomatic repercussions and international scrutiny, potentially affecting Kenya’s reputation as a stable regional mediator.

Political Fallout at Home

Back in Kenya, opposition figures and civil society leaders have seized on the passport revelations to berate the government for what they describe as either gross negligence or deliberate policy missteps. Former Chief Justice and presidential aspirant David Maraga has demanded the revocation of passports issued to RSF-linked individuals and called for independent investigations into alleged breaches of immigration laws and constitutional safeguards.

Political analysts and activists also argue that such actions undermine Kenya’s longstanding role as a neutral facilitator for peace processes in the Horn of Africa. Nairobi serves as a base for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) — a regional bloc heavily involved in mediating the Sudanese conflict — and impartiality has long been considered essential to its diplomatic credibility.

Another critic termed the discrepancies in passport issuance a “national security risk,” warning that it could lead to stricter visa screenings for all Kenyan passport holders abroad and erode trust in official documentation.

Government Response

To date, the Kenyan government has not issued a comprehensive public response addressing how passports were allegedly granted to foreign nationals with tenuous or questionable ties to Kenya. Interior and Immigration officials have remained mostly silent, fuelling further speculation and allegations of state complicity or lax oversight.

Nairobi’s leadership has previously denied any formal support for the RSF, instead framing its engagement with Sudanese actors as part of broader efforts to facilitate peace negotiations. Officials argue that Kenya provides neutral platforms for dialogue rather than endorsing any one faction.

Regional Implications

The passport scandal adds a new dimension to ongoing tensions surrounding Kenya’s role in Sudan’s conflict. Sudan’s government has, in the past, accused Kenya of hosting RSF activities and interfering in internal affairs — charges that Nairobi has dismissed as unfounded.

Security analysts warn the controversy may have broader diplomatic consequences, potentially affecting Kenya’s ties with Western partners and its standing in continental forums. With travel documents at stake and reputational credibility on the line, the fallout from the passport saga is likely to reverberate well beyond Kenya’s borders.