Kenyan farmers have received a major boost after Sudan lifted its ban on tea imports, paving the way for the resumption of exports to one of the country’s most important foreign markets.
Sudan's Trade Minister Mahasin Ali Yaqoub on Wednesday, November 11, ordered the immediate lifting of restrictions previously imposed on Kenyan tea and directed all relevant authorities to implement the decision.
The decision to lift the ban was formally approved by Sudan’s Sovereignty Council in a letter dated November 2, 2026, before being followed by a Cabinet communication issued on November 5, 2026.
The development comes as Kenya continues to rely on international markets to sustain its tea industry, which remains a major contributor to foreign exchange earnings.
It also comes more than a year after Sudan suspended all imports from Kenya following the latter's decision to host the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rebel group currently fighting the Sudanese army for control of the country.
In the March 2025 notice, Sudan announced the immediate restriction of all imports from Kenya, barring tea imports from entering through ports, railways, and air transport.
At the time, Sudan stated that the decision was due to Kenya's defiant act of hosting and sponsoring the rebel group in Nairobi, adding that the move was aimed at protecting Sudan’s national interests and security.
