Report: The Sudanese Government Offers Russia to Establish its First Naval Base on the African Continent

SadaNews - An exclusive report by The Wall Street Journal revealed that the Sudanese government has offered Russia to establish its first naval base on the African continent, in a move that could change the balance of power in one of the world's most important maritime corridors.

According to Sudanese officials who spoke to the newspaper, the offer includes a 25-year agreement allowing Moscow to deploy up to 300 soldiers and 4 warships, including nuclear-powered vessels, in Port Sudan or another naval facility on the Red Sea.

The newspaper noted that the location provides Russia with a strategic foothold that directly overlooks trade routes passing through the Suez Canal, which handles about 12% of global trade, noting that such a presence would grant the Russian navy greater ability to monitor maritime traffic and extend its operations in the Red and Mediterranean Seas and the Indian Ocean, capabilities it currently lacks due to limited permanent supply ports.

The newspaper quoted a senior U.S. official warning that a Russian base in Port Sudan or Libya "could expand Moscow's capacity to use force and allow it to operate without restraint," while retired General Mark Hicks, the former commander of U.S. special forces in Africa, viewed that the base "enhances Russia's international standing and expands its influence."

Meanwhile, the Sudanese military leadership is seeking new sources of arms amid a fierce war against the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and according to a Sudanese official, the country needs air defense systems and advanced weapons, though "entering into a deal with Russia could create problems with the United States and the European Union."

Under the proposal, Sudan would receive advanced weapons at preferential prices, in addition to Russian promises to invest in the mining sector, particularly gold, which is considered one of Khartoum's most important economic resources, according to The Wall Street Journal.

This development comes amid a decline in Moscow's influence in Africa since the disbandment of Wagner mercenaries following the rebellion of its founder and his sudden death in 2023, prompting the Kremlin to seek more formal arrangements to bolster its military and economic presence.

Russia had initially supported the Rapid Support Forces and, in return, gained access to some gold sites, but changing alignments later pushed it to side with the Khartoum government, according to the newspaper.

On the other hand, rebels found that Russian support was insufficient, prompting them to reach out to Ukraine. Sudanese officials and rebels say this prompted Russia to turn toward the Khartoum government.

The newspaper reported that current and former officials involved with Sudanese affairs said that Iran, Egypt, and Turkey had supplied the Sudanese army with drones, but Khartoum rejected a proposal last year to establish a naval base controlled by Tehran to avoid potential isolation imposed by Washington and Tel Aviv, according to Sudanese officials.

The Sudanese war erupted in 2023 between Sudanese forces led by the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and his former deputy Dagalo, later escalating into an open regional conflict, as various countries provided military support to the warring parties.

In October of last year, Rapid Support Forces took control of the entire Darfur region amid widespread accusations of committing large-scale massacres, with diplomats estimating the number of casualties at around 150,000 dead and 12 million displaced due to fighting, famine, and disease.

The report sees Khartoum's pursuit of a formal agreement with Moscow as reflecting its urgent need for a new international lever, despite its awareness that such a step might complicate its relations with Washington and its allies.

Source: The Wall Street Journal