Top Russian Diplomatic Official Pays Rare Visit to War-Torn Sudan

Trip revives speculation about a pending deal between the two countries that would let Russia establish a naval base on Sudan’s Red Sea coast.

Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, man a position in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, on April 20, 2023. AFP via Getty Images

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov paid a two-day visit to Sudan this week, where he met army commander Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan—the country’s de facto leader—in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.

According to an April 29 statement issued by Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Mr. Bogdanov said that his visit was aimed at forging closer ties between the two countries.