Base and level: Sudan expects Moscow's help in rebuilding the country
Sudan is striving to develop relations with Russia to the level of a strategic partnership, Sudanese Ambassador to Russia Mohammed Sirraj told Izvestia. After the liberation of the capital from rebel groups, local authorities are counting on Moscow's help in rebuilding the country, the diplomat added. Cooperation may relate to energy, infrastructure, and the military-technical field. At the same time, despite the liberation of the capital, fighting continues in several regions of the country. The construction of a logistics center for the Russian Navy in Sudan may help stabilize the situation in the Red Sea region.
Sudan seeks strategic partnership with Russia
After two years of civil war, Sudan is facing the difficult task of post-conflict reconstruction. Destroyed infrastructure, millions of displaced people, unstable economic situation — all these factors require significant efforts to revive the country. Khartoum counts on Moscow as one of the key partners in this process, the republic's Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mohammed Sirraj, emphasized in an interview with Izvestia.
— We look forward to advancing relations between the two countries to broader horizons and reaching the stage of strategic partnership. Russia has established itself as a friendly country in every sense of the word. We look forward to a meaningful and vital partnership with Russia in all areas, which will allow it to make a clear and direct contribution to the reconstruction of Sudan," the diplomat said.
According to him, since the beginning of the conflict, Moscow has taken an unequivocal position in favor of the Government of Sudan. Russia supported the legitimate authorities of the country in the international arena by blocking the British draft resolution in the UN Security Council, which could lead to external interference in the internal affairs of Sudan.
— This step has become a landmark example of Russia's support for Sudan. We are grateful to Moscow for its consistent position, which did not allow the scenario of undermining the country's sovereignty to be realized," the ambassador noted.
Friendly relations between Moscow and Khartoum have a long history, but the current situation makes it possible to bring them to a new level. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1956. There were a significant number of Soviet military advisers in the African Republic.
Russia's role in the reconstruction of Sudan
Russia's possible contribution to the stabilization of Sudan includes several areas, from humanitarian aid to investments in strategic industries.
Russian-Sudanese ties have long been established in key sectors of the economy and can be developed in the context of post-war reconstruction, noted Afrikaner Nikolai Dobronravin in an interview with Izvestia.
— When the country is destroyed, any help is useful. Ties with Russia are traditionally strong in several areas. In the economy, this is energy, and joint projects are quite possible in this sector. Russia has experience of this kind," the expert emphasized.
The visits of Russian diplomats, including Mikhail Bogdanov, the Special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa, as well as the visit of Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Sharif to Moscow on February 10, testify to the seriousness of the intentions of the two countries.
A key element of the bilateral cooperation was the agreement reached on the establishment of a logistics center for the Russian Navy in Sudan. On February 12, Ali Yousef Sharif, following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said that the parties had reached a full understanding on the issue.
Dobronravin recalled that military cooperation between Moscow and Khartoum was discussed long before the current conflict.
— Sudan's ties with Russia in such stories are traditional. The very issue of a military presence on the coast was discussed even under Omar al-Bashir, who was overthrown in 2018. The conflict itself is not directly related to this. In addition, the Rapid Reaction Forces (the second side of the conflict in Sudan. — Ed.) also did not oppose, there were no accusations against Russia from their representatives," he explained.
Moscow believes that the construction of a military base will contribute to the stabilization of the Red Sea region. Russian Ambassador to the republic Andrei Chernovol earlier told the African Initiative agency that although the final decision remains with the military, the establishment of the base could be an additional incentive to attract foreign investment to Sudan.
The post-conflict reconstruction of Sudan may become a growth point for Russian-African relations as a whole. Moscow gets the opportunity to strengthen its position on the continent, and Khartoum gets the necessary support to overcome the crisis.
Armed conflict in Sudan
The armed conflict has seriously undermined the country's economy. Key infrastructure has been damaged, and many areas remain without access to basic services. The security issue also remains acute: despite the liberation of Khartoum, fighting continues in several regions of Sudan.
According to the Sudanese ambassador to Russia, the country's army was able to regain control of the capital, but final stabilization will take time. The main threats come from the western regions, especially Darfur, where armed groups operate.
"Although the main military operation in Khartoum has been completed, significant and necessary military operations are continuing to clear the country of terrorist forces that have committed all kinds of violations against civilians, especially in the Darfur region in western Sudan," said Mohammed Sirraj.
The Russian Embassy in Sudan had previously informed Izvestia that the liberation of the capital would help stabilize the situation in all central and southern states and move the fighting west to Kordofan and Darfur.
The army's successes in the capital play a crucial role, as Khartoum remains the political and administrative center of the country. According to the military, the subsequent phases of the campaign will be aimed at severing the supply routes of the rebels in Darfur, which should lead to the final defeat of the Rapid Reaction Forces (RDF). The completion of the military operation will be only the first stage: then Sudan will face an equally difficult recovery process.
In 2019, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who had led the country for 30 years, was overthrown in a military coup. Until his removal, the Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (AFS) and the head of the Rapid Reaction Force (RDF) were subordinate to the Head of State.
Then the reform of the security sector began in the republic, which implied the integration of the SBR into the Armed Forces of Sudan. The desire of the transitional cabinet of al-Burhan to fully incorporate the SBR into the national Armed Forces caused discontent among the SBR, which in this case lost its share of autonomy.
External players, including Western and Arab countries, also had a significant impact. Al-Burhan was supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. At the same time, assistance to the Rapid Reaction Forces from Italy, France and the UAE was reported.
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