The United States has warned that Russia's Wagner mercenary group risked aggravating the conflict in Sudan, as Washington sent ships to the coast to help Americans trying to leave the country.
"We do have deep concern about the engagement of the Prigozhin group, the Wagner group, in Sudan," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a news conference, referring to the Kremlin-linked outfit's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Mr Blinken said Wagner, which has been active in Mali and the Central African Republic as well as in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, "simply brings more death and destruction with it" wherever it is involved.
Media reports quoting officials have alleged that Wagner has supplied weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been battling Sudan's army for the past ten days.
Mr Blinken was speaking after talks with Kenya's foreign secretary, Alfred Mutua, who also pointed the finger at Middle Eastern countries.
Mr Mutua did not name them, but Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have been widely reported to have backed Sudan's warring generals.
"We've been quite concerned by some of our friends in the Middle East," Mr Mutua said, "as well as Russia or others who for a long time have been friendly to either one or the other side."
"At this particular time, it is not a time to be able to take sides in a war," he said.
He added that foreign players were "trying to use Sudan as a playing field for whatever reason."
"We are asking external forces to leave Sudan alone."
Even as Western nations evacuate from Sudan, Mr Mutua said that Kenya believed a deal was "within reach" between Rapid Support Forces chief Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and his rival, army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
"The fighting is still going on in Sudan, but we just feel that at least we have an entryway. They have not locked themselves up and shut their ears to the world," Mr Mutua said.
He said Kenya was ready "at a moment's notice" to mediate, with President William Ruto willing to fly to Sudan if security conditions allow.
US President Joe Biden on Saturday ordered the evacuation of American diplomats from Khartoum, a sign of growing concern about the deteriorating security situation even as he and Blinken press for a diplomatic solution.
Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, said the United States had sent ships to Port Sudan, on the Red Sea, to assist individual Americans who want to leave.
"We have deployed US intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to support land evacuation routes, which Americans are using," Mr Sullivan told reporters at the White House.
"And we're moving naval assets within the region to provide support. American citizens have begun arriving in Port Sudan and we are helping to facilitate their onward travel," Mr Sullivan said.
With fresh memories in Washington of the chaotic efforts to evacuate Afghanistan as the Taliban seized power in 2021, Mr Sullivan said the United States was assisting Americans but would not put troops on the ground.
Mr Blinken said the United States was still in "very active touch" with Americans in Sudan, although most were dual nationals.
"I would say some dozens have expressed an interest in leaving," Blinken said.
The US Agency for International Development separately announced that it was sending a disaster response team to help Sudanese affected by the fighting, although it will initially work out of Kenya.
