According to information published by Tass on June 6, 2021, Sudan will review its naval base agreement with Russia, because some of its provisions are harmful to the country’s interests, Sudanese Chief of General Staff Muhammad Othman al-Hussein said in an interview with the Blue Nile TV channel.
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The Chinese sailors man the rail aboard the guided-missile destroyer Jinan as the warship arrives at the Port Sudan in the Republic of Sudan on the morning of August 25, 2015 (Picture source: China Military)
The general said that the deal will be put into practice if it is mutually beneficial and does not harm Sudan’s interests.
Muhammad Othman al-Hussein said his country was "open for military cooperation with the United States" but denied any connection between the review of the deal with Moscow and the improvement of relations with Washington.
In late April, Sudan announced it was suspending an agreement with Russia to build a naval base in the country. According to the channel, the agreement will be suspended "until it is approved by the legislature," which is non-existent at the country so far.
The news broke out in early December 2020 that Russia and Sudan had struck the agreement to build a naval logistical support and maintenance facility in the African country. The naval logistics base is designed for carrying out repairs, replenishing supplies and for the crewmembers of Russian naval ships to have a rest. Sudan will hand over to Russia for free for the entire period of the agreement’s duration the territory and the real estate that comprises the coastal zone and the water area with the mooring front (the berths for the floating craft). The military and civilian personnel should not exceed 300 people and maybe increased upon agreement with Sudan, the document stipulates.
The agreement will be in effect for 25 years with an automatic extension for 10 years if neither party notifies the other party in writing through diplomatic channels no less than twelve months before the expiry of the relevant period about its intention to terminate it.
Former president Omar Bashir, who held the post for 30 years, was ousted as a result of a military coup on April 11, 2019.
Five countries already have a base in Djibouti including Japan, United States, Italy, France, and China.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti is a military base operated by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), located in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.
It is the PLAN's first overseas military base and was built at a cost of US$590 million. The facility is expected to significantly increase China's power projection in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean, as well as the PLAN's blue water capabilities.
The People's Liberation Army Navy has used the base to conduct anti-piracy operations off of the coast of Djibouti and around the Horn of Africa. It is also said to have taken part in activities such as intelligence collection, non-combat evacuation operations, peacekeeping operations support and counterterrorism.
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