Kenya – Telephone conversation between Catherine Colonna and her Kenyan counterpart (July 10, 2023)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna spoke with her Kenyan counterpart, Alfred Mutua.

She expressed her full support for efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to end the fighting in Sudan and find a political solution to the crisis. France welcomes the opening of direct talks in Addis Ababa on July 9, which we actively support. The ministers condemned the ongoing fighting in Khartoum and Darfur, and particularly the July 9 air strike in Omdurman, which killed at least 20 civilians. They underscored all the parties’ absolute responsibility to protect civilians. There is an urgent need to end the unbearable suffering of the Sudanese people by establishing a ceasefire and setting up humanitarian corridors. Regional actors and Sudan’s international partners must continue to coordinate and work together to achieve these goals. Sudanese political actors must also take part in the process to end the crisis in order to restore the democratic transition and prepare for democratic elections.

The two ministers also discussed the outcome of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, which was held in Paris on June 22 and 23 and attended by the president of Kenya. Work must continue on implementing this reform agenda at the African Climate Summit that will be held in Nairobi this September.