Sudan, the interests of Moscow and the revision of the agreement for the Port Sudan base

For years now, Russia has been present in various African countries where Moscow has been able to restore the consolidated relations of the Soviet Union to relaunch cooperation, especially in the military, energy and mining sectors, and ensure strategic outlets in warm seas. The countries most affected by relations in the defense sector are Algeria and Uganda, followed by South Sudan and Angola. But Sudan, with its view of the Red Sea, is also important for Moscow, as the Kremlin recalled today. In 2018, the trade between the two countries was 500 million dollars. In 2017, 50 percent of Sudan’s arms imports came from Russia. Sudan is the second African country that imports Russian arms after Algeria. Wagner mercenaries are also present in Sudan, with the task of training local forces, and Khartoum has ratified a military cooperation agreement with Moscow. The agreement allows Russia to open a naval logistics base in Port Sudan for 25 years, where 300 military and nuclear-powered naval units can be deployed. Last June the Sudanese Chief of Staff Mohamed Othman al-Hussein announced, in an interview with the Blue Nile broadcaster, the revision of the agreement defined under the regime of Omar al-Bashir, deposed in 2019. The transition authorities – which in recent months have drawn closer to the United States – “they are free to review the agreement in respect of the interests of the country. If the agreement is beneficial for us and for the Russians there will be no problems”, he said.