Ruto, Sudan in Dispute Over Kenyan Tea Exports

Sudan has denied Kenyan President William Ruto’s assertion that Kenyan tea exports continue to flow into the country despite an import ban imposed last month.

The Sudanese Ministry of Trade and Supply reiterated that the suspension of all Kenyan imports, including tea, remains in force.

Tea exporters who spoke to this publication confirmed that shipments to Sudan have been halted since the order was issued, leaving stocks stranded at the Port of Mombasa and causing financial losses in the sector.

Sudan was Kenya’s 12th-largest tea export market in 2024, importing approximately 10.7 million kilograms of the commodity, valued at Ksh2.3 billion ($17.8 million).

The abrupt cessation of exports threatens to further strain trade relations between the two nations, with Kenya’s tea industry heavily reliant on foreign markets.

The import suspension, announced by Sudan’s Acting Minister of Trade and Supplies, Omar Ahmed Mohamed Ali, was a response to Kenya’s decision to host the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nairobi.

The RSF and allied political groups signed a political charter in Kenya’s capital in February, declaring their intent to form a parallel government, a move that Sudanese authorities condemned as interference in internal affairs.

Kenya has defended its stance, stating that its engagement was aimed at fostering peace.

However, the diplomatic fallout has left traders grappling with the consequences, with no immediate resolution in sight.

The Kenyan government has indicated it will seek diplomatic channels to resolve the impasse and restore access to the Sudanese market.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org