Russia is expected to imminently open its first African naval base in Sudan, whose government has sought foreign partners to aid in its ongoing civil war. 

The Kremlin has sought to maintain its military bases in Syria, including the Tartus naval facility, Russia’s only naval access point in the Mediterranean and a hub for its operations in Africa. Russia’s continued control over that port came into serious question one year ago after the fall of Bashar al-Assad to the rebels that Russia had helped him to bomb.

Even as it appears an agreement favoring Moscow could still be reached for Tartus, Russia is now close to expanding its footprint in the region. It may have found a new partner in Sudan, whose government is currently embroiled in a vicious civil war and is eager for foreign support.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Monday that Moscow has been in close talks with Khartoum for access to a naval base along Sudan’s Red Sea coast. Per the presumptive agreement, the government of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan would provide the Kremlin with its first naval base in Africa in exchange for Russian arms, notably military aircraft.

Although Sudan’s eastern coast is under solid government control, the Sudanese government continues to battle the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a renegade militia that previously had the Kremlin’s support. However, Russia will now back the government, in exchange for the naval base and likely mining concessions.

Russia Will Get a Base in the Red Sea

According to WSJ, a deal will likely be concluded that will provide Russia with a hub to support naval operations on the highly trafficked Red Sea and near the Suez Canal, a vital waterway in global trade.

This week, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed al-Sharif traveled to Moscow, where he held high-level meetings with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Although the two sides have engaged in a dialogue for years, no agreement has been reached, but al-Sharif indicated that a deal may have already been concluded.

“We are in complete agreement on this matter, and there are no obstacles,” he told reporters.

Moscow has sought for years to reach this point. It has sought a 25-year lease on a naval base near Port Sudan that could host upwards of 300 military personnel and support up to four warships, including nuclear-powered vessels, at a time.

The overthrow of Sudan’s dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 first paved the way for Russia, which lent support to the RSF via its nefarious Wagner Group. After the mercenary unit declared war on the Sudanese government in 2024, Moscow sought to maintain closer relations with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Sudan remains in a state of civil war, which could further impact operations at Port Sudan. At least 150,000 people have been killed since the fighting broke out in April 2023. The al-Burhan government is also supported by Egypt and Turkey, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) backing the RSF.

Sudan Could Have Russian Fighter Jets Soon

In exchange for a lease on naval facilities, the SAF is expected to receive an undisclosed number of Sukhoi Su-30 (NATO reporting name “Flanker-C”) and Su-35 (NATO reporting name “Flanker-E/M”) fighter aircraft. The multirole fighters could significantly enhance the SAF’s capabilities.

Sudan would be far from the first nation in the region to operate the Su-30, as it is now in service with the air forces of Algeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Angola. Egypt had previously sought to obtain the Su-35. Still, it cancelled the order following Western political and economic pressure, notably from Washington, which warned that the purchase could result in sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Iran sought to acquire those aircraft, and the first two were transported via an AN-124 cargo aircraft in November 2024.