Hemedti's visit to Moscow... Western fears of Russian expansion in the Red Sea

The recent visit of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), Vice-President of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, to Russia raised the issue of:

A storm of questions about its goals and timing, and Western fears that it might result in Moscow’s expansion in Africa and on the Red Sea coasts in particular, especially as it aspires to establish a military base in eastern Sudan.

On the second of this March, Hemedti concluded a visit to Russia that began on February 23, just one day before Moscow began its military operation against Ukraine, and was accompanied by the Ministers of Finance, Jibril Ibrahim, Agriculture Abu Bakr Al-Bushra, and Energy Muhammad Abdullah Mahmoud , and minerals, Mohamed Bashir Abu Nomou.

Part of our visit to the Russian Federation Part of our visit to the Russian Federation

Posted by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo - Mohamed Hamdan Daglo on Thursday, March 3, 2022

Russian military base

Perhaps the most questionable thing about him is the fate of the Sudanese-Russian agreement to establish a military naval base for Moscow in the port of Port Sudan on the Red Sea, especially since Khartoum announced its freezing last year, and since then there has been no development regarding it.

After arriving at Khartoum airport, Hemedti said that he discussed with officials in Russia cooperation in the field of national security, political issues, exchange of experiences, joint cooperation, combating terrorism and training.

In response to a question about the agreement with Russia to establish a naval base, Hemedti confirmed that there are African countries with bases, and I do not know the reason behind the increased interest in this base.

He added, "Sudan is supposed to search for its interests, and what is its interest in having a military base, and what the Sudanese people want."

On November 16, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the establishment of a Russian naval base in Sudan capable of accommodating nuclear-powered ships.

The base is supposed to include about 300 military and civilian personnel, and it can be used in repair, catering and resupply operations for crew members of Russian ships. The Sudanese side has the right to use the docking area, in agreement with the competent authority of the Russian side.

The agreement specifies the possibility of a maximum of 4 warships remaining in the naval base, and Russia has the right to transfer through Sudan's ports and airports weapons, ammunition and equipment necessary for the operation of that base.

However, Sudan decided in April 2021 to freeze the agreement with Russia, according to the statements of a high-ranking Sudanese source to the Anadolu Agency.

On the second of last June, the Chief of Staff of the Sudanese Army, Muhammad Othman Al-Hussein, announced that his country was in the process of reviewing the military agreement with Russia, including the base on the Red Sea.

The commander of the Sudanese army, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced last November that Khartoum had notes on the agreement with Russia to establish the naval base.

From the point of view of retired lieutenant colonel in the Sudanese Navy Omar Arbab, Russia is looking for a foothold in the strategic port of Port Sudan to protect its interests in the African continent, especially in light of the increasing Russian investments in the region.

In his interview with Anatolia, Arbab said that Russia wants to have a station with which it can supply its naval fleet in the Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to the Red Sea itself.

He added that Russia will fight to obtain the base as a strategic goal, and I do not expect it to give up easily.

On the Sudanese side, Arbab believes that the decision to establish a military base needs an elected parliament, so the current government does not have the right to sign a protocol in this way.

He added, "There is a great possibility for Russia to exploit al-Qaeda for operational purposes to achieve its interests, and this will put us in the midst of a conflict that has nothing to do with Sudan, especially as it anticipates a new era of balanced relations with all countries of the world and away from the conflict of axes that are teeming with the region."

The retired military officer considered that opening the airspace to the planes of any of the axes in the world is a hostile act, so how can we establish a military base on our lands?

A Russian military ship in Port Sudan (Archive - French)

Western fears

Hemedti's visit also caused Western concerns, especially as it coincided with the height of tension between Russia and the West after the first launched military operations against Ukraine on February 24, which sparked international outrage and imposed severe sanctions against Russia.

On February 27, the European Union ambassadors inquired, during a meeting in Khartoum with Sudanese Foreign Minister-designate Ali Al-Sadiq, about Khartoum's position on Russian operations in Ukrainian territory, and the background of Hemedti's visit to Moscow.

According to Sudanese media, Al-Sadiq responded to the European inquiry, saying that Khartoum's position is to call on both Russia and Ukraine to stop the escalation between them and resort to dialogue to resolve the current crisis, without details of what happened between the two sides regarding the visit of the Vice President of the Sovereign Council to Moscow.

On these concerns, Sudanese political analyst Mohamed Abdel Qader says that the Sudanese coast represents an important gateway to Africa in light of the Chinese-Russian race on the one hand and the American race on the other hand to control this strategic coast.

Speaking to Anatolia, Abdel Kader believes that there is an international race to tighten control over the Red Sea, as it is an important waterway for global markets.

Sudan has a coast overlooking the Red Sea, extending over a distance of more than 700 km, and the largest port has Port Sudan, which is the main port of the country. Rather, it represents a strategic sea port for several closed and neighboring countries such as Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Sudan is also located in a turbulent region between the Horn of Africa, the Persian Gulf and North Africa, which is important to the efforts of Washington and Moscow to preserve their interests in these vital areas.

Abdel Qader adds that Moscow wants to preserve its interests and the passage of its trade in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and also wants to support its naval military forces by establishing specific centers in the Red Sea, including the establishment of a Russian base in Port Sudan.

In the same context, the Sudanese political analyst describes Hemedti's visit to Russia as important, but at the same time he believes that its timing is inappropriate and gives negative signals about Sudan's support for Moscow's position in its war against Kyiv.

It is expected that this visit will have negative repercussions on Sudan from Western countries, especially as it is living in a transitional phase and a stifling political crisis.

Since last October 25, Sudan has witnessed protests in response to exceptional measures taken by Al-Burhan, most notably the imposition of a state of emergency and the dissolution of the Sovereignty Councils and the Transitional Ministers, which political forces consider a military coup, in exchange for the army's denial.

And last October 27, Russia considered that what happened in Sudan may be a transfer of power and not a military coup, accusing those who reject the army's control of power in Khartoum of committing acts of violence.