Russia’s Lavrov pleased with progress toward a military base in Sudan 

Khartoum, Feb. 10, (dpa/GNA)  - Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed satisfaction over progress in the establishment of a military base during a visit to Sudan. 

Lavrov told a press conference in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Thursday that an “agreement on the creation of a supply base for material and technology of the Russian fleet, as you know, has been signed and is at the stage of ratification.” 

Sudan is of particular importance to Russia and mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group are active there, according to the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT). 

Sudan and Russia signed a contract for a possible military base on the Red Sea about three years ago. 

For Russia, the base on one of the busiest waterways in the world is of strategic importance, while the project is a thorn in the side of the US. 

This marks Lavrov’s second visit to Sudan after 2014, when the country was still ruled by long-term strongman Omar al-Bashir. During this trip Lavrov also visited Mali and Mauritania in West Africa. 

Already on Wednesday, Abdel Fattah Burhan, the chairman of the transitional government and Sudan’s de facto head of state, met several representatives of the European Union, the US, Britain and Norway. 

At the meeting, Burhan insisted on urgently needed aid for Sudan. In return, the EU’s Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber, demanded a speedy agreement for a civilian government in Sudan. 

Since the fall of al-Bashir in 2019, the military has held power in the country. After the armed forces had partially handed over control to a civilian government, Sudan saw another military coup in 2021. 

GNA