Russia has signed an agreement with Sudan allowing it to set up a naval base in the Red Sea to supply its fleet, according to an official document available on the Russian government website.
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According to this document, a preliminary version of which was published in November, Russia will establish in Sudan a "
logistics support center
" where "
repairs, refueling operations and the rest of
navy
crew members
" can be ensured.
Russian.
This base will be able to accommodate a maximum of 300 military and civilian personnel, as well as four ships, including nuclear-powered devices.
Russia will have the right to transport through the ports and airports of Sudan "
arms, ammunition and equipment
" necessary for the operation of this naval base.
The creation of this base "
meets the objectives of maintaining peace and stability in the region, is defensive in nature and is not directed against other states
", according to the document.
This agreement will be in effect for 25 years, after an automatic renewal of 10 years if neither party requests its termination first.
The Sudanese authorities were not immediately available for comment on this information.
In recent years, Russia, which is beginning a geopolitical return to Africa, has drawn closer to Sudan in the military sphere but also through civilian nuclear projects.
Since May 2019, the two countries have been linked by a seven-year military cooperation agreement.
In January 2019, in the midst of a political crisis in Sudan, the Kremlin recognized that Russian instructors had been “
already for some time
” alongside the Sudanese government forces.
During a visit to Russia at the end of 2017, former President Omar al-Bashir asked President Vladimir Putin to "
protect
" Sudan from the United States and called for strengthening military cooperation with Moscow in order to "
to re-equip its armed forces
”.
It will be the first Russian naval base on the African continent.
Moscow already has a similar base for its fleet in Tartus, Syria.
Read also: Russia is building a military base in northeastern Syria