Sudan-Russia Relations: Hopes and Challenges
By Dr. Adel Abdel Aziz Al-Faki
Sudan and Russia share longstanding and deep-rooted ties.
Russia, as a global economic and military power, represents a natural partner for Sudan. Strengthening cooperation with Moscow is not at the expense of any other country, nor does it pose a threat to any party.
Dating back to the Soviet era, relations between Khartoum and Moscow have been distinctive. During President Abboud’s rule, the Soviets built the towering grain silos in Gedaref and Port Sudan. Under President Nimeiri, Moscow was the main supplier of arms to the Sudanese army. Generations still remember the iconic T-55 tank and the ammunition factory that later evolved into Sudan’s defense industry. Several landmark buildings—the headquarters of the national security service near the army command, the old Council of Ministers complex, and the National Research Center—were all constructed with Soviet support.
On the political front, relations are managed through a presidential joint committee and a ministerial joint committee. The most recent meeting of the presidential committee, co-chaired by Sudanese Vice President Malik Agar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (second only to President Vladimir Putin in Russia’s political hierarchy), took place in June 2024.
That session covered a wide range of cooperation areas: electricity, energy and water resources, mining, oil and gas, transportation, telecommunications and IT, infrastructure, environment, agriculture, and industry. It also explored prospects for expanding trade, investment, banking cooperation, and partnerships between the private sectors of both countries.
Following the presidential committee’s work, a delegation from the Russian Central Bank visited Sudan on August 17–18, 2024. Talks centered on the potential use of local currencies in bilateral trade to reduce reliance on foreign exchange. Despite the strategic importance of this initiative, implementation has yet to begin.
Media outlets, however, have largely focused on a narrower issue—Russia’s request for a naval supply station on Sudan’s Red Sea coast. While Khartoum has given preliminary approval, the proposal remains under review. Yet, Sudan’s cooperation with Russia extends far beyond this single matter.
As of September 2025, the Sudanese-Russian ministerial joint committee, co-chaired by the two countries’ ministers of minerals, is convening. Hopes are high that the talks will yield tangible economic benefits for Sudan at this critical juncture, especially given Russia’s global standing as the world’s sixth-largest economy, with a GDP of $4.027 trillion.
Over the years, Sudan and Russia have signed multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding. These include cooperation in converting petroleum gases into liquid fuels through a unique Russian technology that could boost Sudan’s oil production; gold and mineral exploration; aerial and marine surveying; and even the transfer of Russian technology for producing bread from a wheat-sorghum flour blend. Reviving and implementing these agreements would be of immense value.
Key sectors where expanded cooperation could deliver major benefits include:
1. Grain Storage and Food Security: Upgrading Sudan’s existing silos in Gedaref and Port Sudan—raising their combined capacity from 150,000 to 600,000 tons—and constructing new silos with a capacity of 1 million tons. This would serve two purposes: ensuring Sudan’s food security and symbolically renewing a partnership first established in the 1960s, when the Soviet Union built the original silos.
2. Satellite Navigation and Security: Russia has proposed providing Sudan with access to its GLONASS satellite navigation system (the world’s second most important after the U.S. GPS, and ahead of Europe’s Galileo and China’s Beidou). Applications include emergency response systems, command and control for the armed forces and security services, vehicle tracking, and resource management. Given Sudan’s restricted access to U.S. GPS services, this proposal has significant strategic implications.
3. Trade Expansion: Current trade between Sudan and Russia amounts to just $110 million annually, a negligible figure compared to Russia’s $640 billion in global exports. With Moscow facing strained relations with the United States and several EU countries, opportunities exist for Sudan to boost exports of meat, vegetables, and fruits to Russia.
Strengthening these avenues of cooperation could pave the way for a more balanced and mutually beneficial partnership between Sudan and Russia.
