Sudan crisis: Nairobi hosts high-level panel over humanitarian catastrophe, regional instability

As Sudan‘s deadly conflict continues to ravage the country, a high-level multi-lingual panel convened on Thursday, 11 September 2025, at the Kempinski Villa Rosa hotel in Nairobi to assess the worsening humanitarian crisis and explore viable pathways to peace.
The discussion, held in English, French, Arabic, and Swahili, brought together experts, diplomats, and regional actors to confront the severe challenges facing Sudan and the wider East Africa region.
The ongoing war in Sudan has claimed more than 150,000 lives and displaced an estimated 12 million people, many fleeing to neighbouring countries including South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Egypt, Uganda, and Kenya.
The United Nations describes this as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with famine spreading rapidly amid soaring food prices and rampant insecurity blocking aid delivery.
“This crisis is not only a tragedy for Sudan but a looming threat to the stability of East Africa and beyond. If left unresolved, the conflict risks creating a security vacuum ripe for terrorism, human trafficking, and the proliferation of small arms,” the panel said.
The bodies were found just outside the West Darfur city of El Geneina, pictured in April, two weeks after the fighting broke out./Photo Courtesy.
Humanitarian Catastrophe amid regional fragility
Sudan’s instability has spiralled into one of the most pressing regional emergencies in Africa. The destruction of vital infrastructure, the collapse of healthcare systems, and widespread food insecurity have devastated civilian populations.
The panel emphasised that the ongoing violence severely restricts humanitarian access, compounding the suffering of millions.
More than 12 million people have fled their homes, seeking refuge in neighbouring states. These mass displacements are placing enormous pressure on host countries already grappling with economic challenges and existing refugee populations.
The panel highlighted the regional implications of Sudan’s turmoil, noting that the conflict exacerbates cross-border security concerns and complicates migration flows. With extremist groups potentially exploiting the chaos, the threat of terrorism is rising in the Horn of Africa and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
A man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment, during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Failed dialogue
Efforts to resolve the conflict have so far failed to deliver sustainable peace. Previous initiatives, such as those led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) with support from Saudi Arabia and the United States, have produced limited results, leaving guns to continue firing and political issues unresolved.
Key obstacles include inconsistent peace processes, the influence of external powers pursuing competing agendas, and the lack of genuine inclusion of Sudanese political actors in negotiations. The panel underscored that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without an inclusive approach that embraces all Sudanese stakeholders.
“Inclusive and comprehensive negotiations among Sudanese groups are the only viable path toward a lasting resolution,” one panel member stressed. “External interests have too often skewed peace efforts, sidelining the voices of those directly affected by the conflict.”
Kenya’s role in the peace mission
Kenya, recognised for its track record in mediating African conflicts, has historically been a hub for peace processes in the region. It played a pivotal role in ending the longest conflict in Africa with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
Building on this legacy, Kenya continues to offer a neutral platform for dialogue and peacebuilding initiatives.
The Kofi Annan Foundation, Amina Live Foundation, and Maghreb and Africa Media Centre expressed readiness to support a robust peace process under the auspices of the African Union, focusing on addressing the root causes of Sudan’s conflict through inclusive participation.
“Kenya’s experience and regional influence uniquely position it to foster genuine peace talks that involve all Sudanese factions,” said a representative from one of the supporting foundations.