The foreign minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov was scheduled to meet with Sudanese officials on Thursday. To increase his country’s influence it was a part of the trip to Africa. At a time when the West has been trying to isolate Moscow by imposing sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine.
According to state news agency SUNA, Lavrov arrived in Khartoum late on Wednesday in an effort to strengthen links between the two nation’s economies. Iraq, Mauritania, Mali, and last week’s visit to South Africa were also on Lavrov’s tour.
This week, Sudanese authorities hosted representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, and France. They were backing negotiations to build a new democratic civilian government in Sudan at the same time as meeting Lavrov.
In the past, Sudan’s ruling military council has debated permitting Russia to establish a naval station on the Red Sea coast. A strategically important area where Turkey and the Gulf States are also vying for influence.
Russia’s growing sway in the Sahel and its border regions in Africa is of concern to Western nations.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan said from Khartoum that the upcoming trip was part of the strengthening ties between Sudan and Russia over the previous few years.
She noted that Russia had expressed interest in investing and had agreed to create a naval station along Sudan’s eastern coast. By signing a memorandum of understanding with the country’s former transitional government.
The Wagner Group, a private military contractor from Russia, reportedly operated in Sudan to boost gold mining. Whereas, among other things, according to Western diplomats and official sources.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, controls the existence of wagner and a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sudan’s foreign ministry disputed him previously
Ali al-Sadeq, the future foreign minister, and Lavrov were supposed to meet. As well as other officials in Khartoum, according to SUNA.
Dmitry Trenin, a member of the Russia Foreign and Defence Policy Council, said in a statement. That from Moscow that Russia’s trip to Africa demonstrates its desire to establish greater military, security, and commercial connections in the area.
“The earthquake that wrecked Russia’s relations with Europe and the wider West is the primary factor [in Russia’s interest in Africa]. Russia’s most significant and exclusive partners in the hybrid conflict between the West and Russia are Middle East, Asia and Africa.
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, visited Russia the day before the February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine. And claimed willingness to host a Russian base. He is also the head of Sudan’s potent paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
