General Mohamed Osman Hussein stated that he is negotiating with Russian officials to “serve the interests of Sudan.”

The Sudanese military chief stated that the country is reviewing an agreement to establish a Russian naval base along the coast of the Red Sea. The agreement was reached under the leadership of former President Omar al-Bashir. It was overthrown two years ago after 30 years.

“This agreement was signed under the leadership of the former National Salvation Government,” General Mohamed Osman Hussein, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, said in an interview broadcast late Tuesday.

He told Sudan’s Blue Nile TV station that last week he held a “meeting with the visiting Russian delegation to review this deal in Sudan’s interests”.

News about the transaction Surfaced On the official portal of the Russian government at the end of last year. The agreement allows Russia to establish a naval base in Port Sudan in the Red Sea that can accommodate up to 300 Russian soldiers, while retaining up to four naval ships, including nuclear-powered ships.

In exchange, Russia will provide Sudan with weapons and military equipment. The agreement is valid for 25 years, and if both parties do not object, it will be automatically extended for 10 years.

Hussein said: “We are negotiating a possible review of this transaction to ensure that our interests and profits are considered.”

Supplementary talks?

For decades, due to the severe sanctions imposed by the United States on the Bashir government, Sudan has relied on Russia militarily.

But since Bashir was removed from the military in April 2019 due to widespread demonstrations against his rule, Sudan has been improving relations with the United States.

As a result of relinquishing power by the end of 2023, the country is now governed by a technocratic government and a committee of civilian and military figures.

Last year, the United States appointed its first ambassador to Khartoum in decades and removed Sudan from its list of “countries that support terrorism.” As part of the thaw, Sudan agreed to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, an American ally.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree in November stating that he had approved the Russian government’s proposal to establish a naval logistics center in Sudan.

Hussein pointed out that the Russian base transaction has not yet been submitted to the yet-established legislative committee, which will serve as the parliament during the political transition in Sudan.

The Kremlin stated that it has seen Hussein’s remarks and that Moscow maintains regular contact with Sudan, hoping to resolve the problem.

According to Interfax news agency, a senior official of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Bogdanov suggested more talks to clarify the situation, and said that Russia would be happy to clarify anything about it.