NAIROBI, Kenya- Sudan has lifted its ban on Kenyan tea imports, reopening a market that had been closed to exporters for about 20 months and offering relief to farmers, processors and traders in Kenya’s tea value chain.
The restriction was formally removed through Sudan’s Ministerial Order No. 25 of 2026, signed on November 8 by Industry and Trade Minister Mahasin Ali Yaqoub. The order directs relevant authorities to implement the decision immediately.
President William Ruto welcomed the move on Wednesday, saying it followed his engagement with Sudan Prime Minister Professor Kamil Idris on the sidelines of the COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe.
President Ruto said the reopening would restore opportunities for Kenyan exporters and support the livelihoods of tea farmers and their families.
“Kenya welcomes and appreciates this decision,” the President said, describing it as proof of what dialogue and constructive diplomacy can achieve.
Sudan order clears way for imports
The Sudanese order ends a trade restriction that had limited Kenyan tea’s access to one of its traditional African markets since March 2025.
According to the order, Sudan’s Sovereignty Council approved the lifting of the ban on November 2, followed by a Cabinet communication on November 5.
The Industry and Trade Ministry then issued the directive that formally revoked the restriction.
The decision does not automatically restore previous sales volumes, but it removes the regulatory barrier that had stopped importers from placing new orders or clearing Kenyan tea through Sudanese entry points.
For Kenyan exporters, the next phase will involve restoring commercial contracts, rebuilding supply arrangements and responding to demand from Sudanese buyers after a prolonged break in trade.
Tea exporters regain a valuable market
Sudan had been an important destination for Kenyan tea before the restriction.
Tea Board of Kenya figures cited by the government showed Sudan imported 10.7 million kilograms of Kenyan tea worth about Sh2.3 billion in 2024, placing it among Kenya’s significant export destinations for the commodity.
The closure of the market exposed exporters to losses, particularly businesses with tea already prepared, packed or contracted for Sudanese buyers.
Tea stakeholders had warned shortly after the ban was imposed that consignments were stranded at the Port of Mombasa, in warehouses and on the high seas.
Unlike some bulk tea exports, shipments tailored for a specific market can be difficult to redirect quickly because of buyer preferences, packaging requirements, pricing arrangements and contract terms.
The reopening therefore offers more than a diplomatic win. It could ease pressure on exporters seeking additional outlets for Kenyan tea and help restore demand for farmers whose earnings are tied to international sales.
A trade decision after a diplomatic rift
Sudan’s Ministry of Trade and Supply suspended imports from Kenya on March 11, 2025, amid strained relations between Nairobi and Khartoum.
The row followed Kenya’s hosting of meetings involving Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and allied groups. Sudan criticised the meetings as interference in its internal affairs, while the dispute spilled into commercial ties and affected Kenyan tea exports.
President Ruto did not revisit that dispute in his statement on Wednesday. Instead, he focused on the restored market, stronger bilateral relations and the need for peace, stability and shared prosperity in the region.
Both President Ruto and Prime Minister Idris attended the 25th COMESA Summit in Harare, held under the theme, One Market, One Future: Advancing Inclusive Industrialisation, Investment and Regional Integration in COMESA.
The lifting of the ban gives Kenyan tea exporters a route back into Sudan, but the speed of the commercial recovery will depend on new orders, payment arrangements, shipping logistics and the wider stability of Sudan’s market.
