Moscow’s deputy foreign minister has met with the Sudanese ambassador to discuss urgent steps toward ending the conflict in the region
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has held talks with the Sudanese ambassador to Moscow, Mohamed Siraj, to discuss the ongoing conflict in the African country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
The discussions were held at Siraj’s request and primarily focused on the military and political crisis in Sudan, “including the urgent need for a ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population,” according to the ministry.
In addition, Bogdanov and Siraj discussed the prospects of enhancing the traditionally friendly ties between Russia and Sudan, the ministry’s press service noted.
In an interview with Izvestia earlier in April, Siraj expressed Sudan’s ambition to elevate relations with Russia to a strategic partnership. He emphasized that Khartoum views Moscow as a steadfast friend and is counting on comprehensive cooperation across all sectors.
“We [Sudan] are counting on a meaningful and vital partnership with Russia across all areas, which will enable it to make a clear and direct contribution to the reconstruction of Sudan,” the Sudanese ambassador stated.
Siraj further pointed out that Moscow had consistently backed the Sudanese government since the onset of hostilities in the African country.
“Although the main military operation in Khartoum has been completed, significant and necessary military operations are still underway to clear the country of terrorist forces that have committed all kinds of violations against the civilian population, especially in the Darfur region in western Sudan,” Siraj stated.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by fierce fighting between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), with both factions vying for control amid a stalled transition to civilian rule. Estimates of fatalities vary, although research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests that over 61,000 people were killed in Khartoum state alone during the first 14 months of the conflict. Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) indicated more than 28,700 fatalities by late November, including over 7,500 civilians killed in targeted attacks.
Last April, Bogdanov visited Sudan in “a signal of support” for the Sudanese army amid its war with the RSF, Reuters reported. The Russia official met with Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
