Sudan decides to freeze a military agreement with Russia to establish a large military base on the Red Sea

A high-ranking Sudanese official said, Wednesday, that his country has decided to freeze a military agreement with Moscow that includes the establishment of a Russian military base on the Red Sea, east of the country.

The source, who requested anonymity, added to the Turkish Anadolu News Agency, “The freezing decision concerns an agreement signed by the former regime (headed by Omar al Bashir 1989-2019) with Moscow, and includes the establishment of a Russian military base in Port Sudan (on the Red Sea)”.

He attributed the freeze decision to “the agreement contains terms and details that cannot be pursued without the agreement of the two parties, especially after the glorious December revolution,” referring to popular protests that toppled the Bashir regime, on April 11, 2019.

In turn, the Russian embassy in Khartoum denied the news of the suspension of the agreement between Moscow and Khartoum to establish a center for supplying the Russian fleet in Sudan.

The Russian embassy said in a statement, on Wednesday: “In view of the circulation of news in the Sudanese media space regarding the alleged suspension of the implementation of the agreement between Russia and Sudan regarding the establishment of the material and technical supply center for the Russian naval fleet on the territory of Sudan, the Russian embassy confirms that these allegations do not coincide with reality, Regardless of what the alleged sources say.

On April 15, the Sudanese Defense and Security Council denied the accuracy of the news circulating about the establishment of a Russian base in the country, against the backdrop of media coverage of the news of the start of the establishment of a Russian military base in eastern Sudan.

In 2017, Moscow was not enthusiastic about the then Sudanese President Omar al Bashir’s (1989-2019) request to establish a Russian military base in his country.

Moscow has recently been active in talking about an agreement it signed with Khartoum to establish a Russian military base in eastern Sudan on the Red Sea, while Khartoum dealt with the matter in the negative.

In May 2019, Moscow revealed the terms of an agreement with Khartoum, to facilitate the entry of warships to the ports of the two countries, after they entered into force.

On November 16, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the establishment of a Russian naval base in Sudan, capable of accommodating nuclear powered ships.

On the 19th of the same month, the Sudanese Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Muhammad Othman al Hussein, said, “Until now we do not have complete agreement with Russia on establishing a naval base in the Red Sea, but military cooperation between us is extended.

However, on December 9, 2020, the Russian Official Gazette published the text of an agreement between Moscow and Khartoum on establishing a supply and maintenance base for the Russian Navy on the Red Sea, with the aim of “strengthening peace and security in the region,” according to the preamble of the agreement.

The agreement stipulated the establishment of a Russian naval facility capable of receiving nuclear-powered warships and accommodating 300 military and civilian personnel.

This base can receive four warships at one time, and will be used in the repair, resupply and supply of crew members of Russian ships.