New Sudanese Arms Contracts with Russia Confirmed - Despite Success of Western-Backed Coup in 2019

Russia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed the signing of weapons contracts with its longstanding East African defence partner Sudan, with Sudanese representatives attending the Russian Army-2020 international military-technical forum. "The planned transfer of Russian armaments is aimed at the further development of friendly relations with foreign partners," the Ministry stated regarding the deal, with Sudan being one of just two countries confirmed to have signed contracts alongside Laos. What makes the Sudanese acquisition particularly notable is that it has taken place despite a strongly Western backed military coup in the country in April 2019, which saw the administration of President Omar Al Bashir, a longstanding friend of Russia, China and other Western adversaries, toppled and pro-Western figures, many of them dissidents living in Europe, placed in power. Sudan has since come under very considerable pressure to reduce defence ties with Western adversaries and purchase more weapons from Europe - with Germany in particularly having sought to make inroads into the Sudanese arms market. The post-coup government has notably sought to make economic and political reforms to restructure the country along a Western model, although its already questionable popularity has declined fast over the past 18 months as it oversaw the most serious economic crisis in modern Sudanese history. 

Although Sudan’s government is currently considered vehemently pro-Western, and received U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo for an official visit on August 26th, just a day before the Russian arms deal was confirmed, several parts of its Bashir-era military and intelligence establishments have maintained considerable influence and appear to be working independently of the post-coup push for westernisation. Sudan’s armed forces rely overwhelmingly on equipment from Russia and Belarus, ranging from MiG-29 fighter jets and Mi-35 attack helicopters to Su-24M strike fighters, with many of these weapons systems having seen combat against Western-backed insurgents in a number of internal conflicts. Lower end weapons systems including small arms, rocket launchers, APCs and even battle tanks are most produced domestically by Sudan’s Military Industrial Corporation, with the country’s defence sector estimated to be the second or third largest on the African continent and manufacturing two separate classes of main battle tank - the Al Zubair and Al Bashir platforms. Sudan previously showed an interest in acquiring higher end Russian hardware, with President Omar Al Bashir visiting Moscow in November 2017 which was accompanied by reports that negotiations were opened for the sale of Su-30SM and Su-35 fighter jets. The country remains one of the most resource-rich in Africa, and is among the most valued clients on the continent for advanced Russian weapons systems.