HRF is alarmed by reports indicating that Kenyan authorities issued passports to a sanctioned Sudanese war financier and other individuals linked to Sudan’s genocidal Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This marks another troubling twist in President William Ruto’s controversial alliance with the RSF, implicating authorities in aiding the paramilitary group’s sanctions evasion. The international community should hold Kenya accountable.

Ruto’s regime has not responded to public outrage after reporting on leaked documents revealed that Kenyan officials issued passports to a number of foreign shadowy figures, including an infamous Zimbabwean businessman and multiple individuals linked to the RSF.

Among the RSF-linked individuals holding Kenyan passports is Algoney Hamdan Daglo Musa, a younger brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti. Both men are under US sanctions — Hemedti for the RSF’s campaign of ethnically motivated killings and sexual violence, his brother for procuring weapons and financing for the paramilitary group.

Kenyan authorities have defended their decision to make the country the base of the RSF’s self-proclaimed parallel government. Investigative reporting has indicated that the RSF uses Kenya’s airports as part of its arms supply chain; the group has also reportedly used weapons from Kenya in Sudan’s civil war.