As field pressure mounts on the Sudanese army—following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) announcement that they have taken full control of the city of Babnousa, a key transportation crossroads in South Sudan—a new media report has revealed a Sudanese offer to Russia to establish a military base on the Red Sea, in what observers interpret as an attempt to influence the army’s position on the ground in the coming period.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Sudanese officials as saying that the Sudanese government had offered Russia what would be its first naval base in Africa, a strategically unprecedented location overlooking vital shipping routes in the Red Sea. The Sudanese army has not yet commented on the report.
A Concerning Development
According to the newspaper, if completed, this deal would pose a worrisome development for the United States, which seeks to prevent Russia and China from gaining control over African ports—where they could rearm and repair warships and potentially choke vital maritime corridors.
Citing Sudanese officials, the American newspaper reported that under the 25-year proposal submitted by the Sudanese government to Russian officials last October, Moscow would have the right to station up to 300 troops and dock up to four warships—including nuclear-powered vessels—at Port Sudan or at another, yet-unnamed facility on the Red Sea.
Mining Concessions
The Sudanese offer also includes providing Russia with insider information regarding the country’s lucrative mining concessions, as Sudan is Africa’s third-largest gold producer.
The deal itself—if executed—would grant the Sudanese army access to advanced Russian air-defense systems and other weapons at preferential prices, in the context of its ongoing war with the RSF. The Wall Street Journal quoted a Sudanese military official saying that the country needs new weapon supplies, but signing a deal with Russia could create problems with the United States and the European Union.
U.S. Intervention
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on November 19 that he would intervene to stop the conflict that erupted in April 2023 at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In November, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt—known collectively as the Quad—proposed a three-month ceasefire plan followed by peace talks. The RSF responded by saying it accepted the plan, but soon after launched a series of air raids on army-controlled areas.
In February, former Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Al-Sharif announced that Khartoum and Moscow had reached an agreement regarding the establishment of the Russian naval base on the Red Sea coast. However, the matter remained stalled amid escalating military and political tensions between the army and the RSF.
Following the fall of the strategic city of El Fasher into RSF hands, Russia swiftly announced the suspension of the Port Sudan naval base project. The announcement came from Russia’s ambassador to Khartoum, Andrey Chernovol, who attributed the decision to the ongoing military conflict.
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