Sudan’s Burhan heads to Moscow for Russia-Africa summit

Sudan’s Sovereignty Council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has departed for Moscow to attend the third Russia-Africa summit on October 28-29, state news agency SUNA reported on Tuesday.

His delegation includes the foreign and finance ministers, the heads of the General Intelligence Service and the Defence Industries System.

Al-Burhan is expected to address the summit, hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and visit the Russian State University for the Humanities.

Closer ties

Sudan’s ambassador to Russia, Mohammed al-Ghazali al-Tijani Siraj, said the visit reflects growing bilateral relations and cooperation at international forums.

He said Russia had supported Sudan’s sovereignty and state institutions, particularly the Sudanese Armed Forces, which have been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023.

Russia had also defended Sudan at the United Nations Security Council, using its veto power to oppose measures it considered threats to Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Siraj said.

“Russia’s recent position against attempts to expand the scope of Resolution 1591 to cover the entire territory of Sudan is evidence of this,” he said.

Reconstruction

Siraj said Russia could help Sudan rebuild after the war, citing potential cooperation in energy, oil, mining, agriculture, infrastructure and higher education.

He said the countries’ joint intergovernmental committee on economic and trade cooperation had continued to meet, with agreements reached at its eighth session outlining areas for future collaboration.

Sudan and Russia are marking 70 years of diplomatic relations this year, he said.

Siraj said al-Burhan would outline Sudan’s vision for peace and stability while defending its sovereignty and unity. He described the war as a fight against what he called a terrorist militia and its regional and international backers.

“The will of peoples cannot be defeated, and falsehood, no matter how long it lasts, is destined to disappear,” he said.

Summit agenda

The summit is expected to consider three draft documents: a summit declaration, a declaration on civilian uses of artificial intelligence, and an action plan for the Russia-Africa partnership for 2027-2029, Siraj said.

The documents cover political, economic, security and legal cooperation, as well as education, science, health, the environment and climate issues.

The proposed action plan seeks to strengthen the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, maintain dialogue and expand ministerial consultations. It also prioritises cooperation in the digital economy, trade, tourism and natural resource management, Siraj said.

The plan aims to support African countries’ development goals under the African Union’s Agenda 2063, known as “The Africa We Want”, he said.

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