Sudan seals deal for first Russian naval base in Africa – Firstpost

Sudan has confirmed its agreement to allow Russia to establish its first naval base in Africa on the Red Sea coast, finalising a long-delayed deal that grants Moscow a crucial logistical and military foothold on one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The announcement was made during a visit by Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed al-Sharif to Moscow, where he met with his Russian counterpart,
Sergei Lavrov.

Confirming that years of on-off negotiations have concluded, al-Sharif stated the two nations were in full accord on the arrangement.

“We are in complete agreement on this matter, and there are no obstacles,” the Sudanese Foreign Minister told reporters.

“The matter is very simple. We have agreed on everything,” he added.

Trade, tactics, triumph

The facility, which will be a logistics support centre located near Port Sudan, is a big geopolitical win for Moscow.

The
Red Sea is a crucial waterway, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean via the
Suez Canal and handling approximately 12% of global maritime trade. By establishing a presence here, Russia joins the United States and China, which already operate bases in nearby Djibouti.

The initial deal, which was first mooted in 2017 and signed in 2020, allows Russia to deploy up to 300 military personnel and simultaneously accommodate up to four naval ships, including nuclear-powered vessels. The agreement is set to last for 25 years, with the option for automatic 10-year extensions.

The revival of the deal comes at a pivotal time for Russia, particularly following the overthrow of the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, which cast uncertainty over the future of Russia’s long-standing naval base in Tartus, Syria.

Pressure on the inside, alarm on the outside

While the Sudanese military government has pushed the deal forward, analysts quoted by the WSJ caution that the country’s deep political instability and ongoing civil conflict could threaten its long-term viability.

Samuel Ramani, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, highlighted Russia’s complicated involvement in Sudan’s internal conflicts. He noted that while the Kremlin has officially sought deeper ties with the Sudanese army, the Russian-backed Wagner Group had previously supported the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “Russia was playing both sides,” Ramani commented, though he suggested the Kremlin has “incrementally” deepened ties with the army since the death of Wagner’s leader.