Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced at a press conference with his Sudanese counterpart, Ali al-Sadiq Ali, that an agreement to establish a logistic center for the Russian Navy in Sudan would soon be signed by Moscow and Khartoum.
On his second trip to Africa this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stopped in Sudan on February 9. The last time Lavrov traveled to Africa was in 2014.
According to reports, the Russian Navy will have access to ports in Sudan after signing an agreement with the country in 2019. Russia will establish a major presence in the region with the 2020 completion of a naval base in Port Sudan. Despite being announced in 2021, the agreement has yet to be ratified by the parliament of Sudan due to the concerns of the Sudanese military.
Under the terms of the agreement, Russian naval vessels may enter Port Sudan provided they give advance notice (not later than 7 days before the date of entry). There was no impact on the agreement from the political transition in Sudan.
Sudan is a crucial entrance point for Russian companies on the African continent, despite the challenges posed by the country’s ties to non-state actors in the Middle East and the political crises afflicting the region.
