Sudanese ministers attend energy event in Russia to boost ties
Sudan’s energy and finance ministers are in Moscow to attend Russia Energy Week, highlighting strengthening bilateral economic ties, according to the Sudan Tribune on October 13th.
Sudan’s military-backed government enjoys strong support from the Kremlin, who already have existing agreements in oil, mining, and transportation between them.
Mohamed al-Ghazali, who is Sudan’s ambassador to Moscow, stated that Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim and Energy Minister Mutasim Ibrahim were attending after receiving an official invitation.
He explained that the ministers are set to participate in the main session which will be addressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Afterwards, they will hold bilateral talks with Russian officials and energy companies.
Al-Ghazali affirmed that the participation represents the “positive momentum” which is strengthening bilateral relations between the Sudanese and Russian governments. One element of these ties is anticipated economic partnerships for reconstruction efforts in a post-war Sudan.
He also added that the visit’s timing is important as it comes just under a month after Russia and Sudan held a joint ministerial committee in which they signed a protocol for economic and commercial collaboration.
Al-Ghazali explained that “This participation represents a good opportunity to advance the executive efforts to activate the protocol in the fields of energy and oil.”
Alongside economic ties, Russia has armed pro-army Sudanese militias with weaponry and drones to be used in the military’s war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023 after a power struggle turned bloody.
According to Bloomberg on December 18th, 2024, Moscow had sent “thousands of weapons and jet components” which largely contributed to the military’s total recapture of the capital city, Khartoum, from the grips of the RSF in May.
Dirar Ahmed, a senior member of Sudan’s Beja tribe and commander of a pro-army militia, told Bloomberg that Russia and Iran provide “different things like drones and weapons. So now the balance of power has changed.”
However, in January 2025, the US accused Moscow of funding both warring parties, each of whom have been accused of war crimes, to advance its alleged interest in exploiting Sudan’s vast gold reserves.
This came after Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution to end all hostilities in Sudan, which all other 14 members voted in favour of. Then US ambassador to the UN condemned the move, saying that “Russia chose obstruction, standing alone as it voted to imperil civilians, while funding both sides of the conflict – yes, that’s what I said, both sides.”
Indeed, in July, satellite imagery displayed two Russian cargo planes landing in areas of Sudan under the control of the RSF. The aircrafts were identified as the Ilyushin IL-76, a multi-purpose Soviet era aircraft designed to carry personnel and equipment to remote areas.
Russia’s alleged support for both warring factions is not a recent development either. CNN reported in April 2023, at the start of the war, that the now disbanded Russian mercenary group Wagner was supplying the RSF with surface-to-air missiles from bases in Libya controlled by Khalifa Haftar.
On July 25th, 2024, an Amnesty International investigation exposed Russia and other international actors involved in the conflict for facilitating “the constant flow of arms into Sudan” which was “continuing to cause civilian death and suffering on an immense scale.”
Sudan Tribune, Bloomberg, Maghrebi.org, CNN, Amnesty International
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