Sudan’s army has reportedly agreed to allow Russia to established a navy base near Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast in exchange for arms it needs to fight the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as both rival groups are vying for power in the north-eastern African country. The potential deal with Russia that may see Moscow build a naval logistic base on the Red Sea comes at a time when the Sudanese army appears determined to dig deep in civil war with the RSF. Both countries have been discussing the issue for years, with Sudan’s then-president Omar al-Bashir and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly having reached a deal in 2017 on the construction of a Russian base with room for several hundred soldiers and four ships. However, due to the political instability after al-Bashir’s ousting and later the breakout of a civil war, Sudan’s parliament was unable to ratify the contract. “The army is in desperate need of weapons, ammunitions and spare parts for its Russian-made warplanes,” said prominent Sudanese analyst Osman Al Mirghany.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 17, 2024 11:13 UTC