{"id":170681,"date":"2022-02-27T12:36:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-27T12:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/sudan-opposition-leader-hemeti-s-visit-to-russia-an-adventure\/"},"modified":"2023-06-30T19:30:43","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T17:30:43","slug":"sudan-opposition-leader-hemeti-s-visit-to-russia-an-adventure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudan-opposition-leader-hemeti-s-visit-to-russia-an-adventure","title":{"rendered":"Sudan opposition leader: Hemeti\u2019s visit to Russia \u2018an adventure\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Sovereignty Council member Siddig Tawir told Radio Dabanga on Saturday that the visit by the Deputy Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Mohamed \u2018Hemeti\u2019 Dagalo, to Russia under these circumstances can be called \u201can adventure\u201d. He explained that \u201cthe isolation that Sudan is experiencing after the October 25 coup is what prompted Hemeti to this adventure\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The visit hopes \u201cto advance relations between Sudan and Russia to broader horizons, and strengthen the existing cooperation between us in various fields,\u201d Hemeti said.<\/p>\n

The official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reports that Hemeti met with the Russian Deputy Minister of Defence, Alexander Fomin,\u00a0in Moscow yesterday. Fomin said that his country is proud of the distinguished historical friendship that binds it with Sudan and\u00a0declared\u00a0the keenness of Russia to consolidate its cooperation and coordination with Sudan in all forms.<\/p>\n

Political analyst Siddig El Zeylei considers the visit of the deputy head of the coup council to Russia as a direct reflection of the crisis which the country entered after the October 25 coup.<\/p>\n

He\u00a0told Radio Dabanga on Saturday\u00a0 that\u00a0the timing of Hemeti\u2019s visit as inappropriate and as indicating his lack of understanding of the current international crisis by supporting the Russian position in its war against Ukraine. He stressed that Sudan\u2019s current crises are \u201ca result of this group\u2019s control of power in the country\u201d and that \u201cthe unity of the opposition and the revolutionary force is the only way to bring down this bloody regime”.<\/p>\n

El Zeylei explained that only the Foreign Ministry should be\u00a0responsible for foreign relations. Yet before and after the October 25 coup, Hemeti has assumed the roles of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. El Zeylei\u00a0referred\u00a0to his relations with Israel,\u00a0his shuttle flights between Israel and the UAE, his visit to Ethiopia, and now he his\u00a0turning\u00a0to Russia.<\/p>\n

Tawir asserts that junta leader Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan and Hemeti believe that Sudan\u2019s foreign relations are based on the choices of individuals outside the institutional frameworks. He also\u00a0pointed out that the composition of the delegation that accompanied Hemeti to Russia\u00a0reveals the self-interests of the delegation.<\/p>\n

The delegation includes\u00a0Jibril Ibrahim, Minister of Financial Affairs and formerly leader of the Justice and Equality rebel movement.<\/p>\n

Red Sea naval base<\/strong><\/p>\n

Moscow is keen to establish a naval base in the Red Sea<\/a>. In December 2020, Russia signed an agreement with Sudan to establish a navy base in Port Sudan in Red Sea state for at least 25 years. The deal, published on the official portal of government documents, allows Russia to keep up to four navy ships in the Red Sea, including nuclear powered ones.<\/p>\n

The agreement can be automatically extended for 10 year periods if none of the parties object.<\/p>\n

The document states that the Russian navy base should \u201chelp strengthen peace and stability in the region\u201d and is not directed against any third parties. In exchange for Sudan\u2019s permission to set up the base, Russia will provide Sudan with weapons and military equipment.<\/p>\n

In 2019, Sudan became the second-largest purchaser of Russian arms in Africa after Algeria, with half of Sudan\u2019s total arms acquisitions sourced from Russia.<\/p>\n

In March 2021, the Sudanese Naval Forces received a visiting Russian frigate<\/a> which docked in Port Sudan. The visit by the Russian naval vessel fell within the framework of progressing relations between Sudan and Russia, and boosting cooperation between the Sudanese Navy with its Russian counterpart.<\/p>\n

Former president Omar Al Bashir approved entry of a Russian gold mining company into the country and was negotiating construction of a Russian oil refinery, as well as a Russian naval base, when he was overthrown.<\/p>\n