Russia Ready to Support Efforts to Stabilize Situation in Sudan, Foreign Minister Says

Russia is prepared to work alongside international partners to help restore stability in Sudan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"As true friends, we are deeply concerned about the dramatic events unfolding in Sudan. We are ready to join other external players in supporting efforts to normalize the situation," Lavrov said during a meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Al-Sharif.

Lavrov also said that the full resumption of bilateral cooperation depends on security conditions in Sudan.

The Sudanese counterpart noted that his country values Moscow’s solidarity during "a serious war between the [Sudanese] army and the Rapid Support Forces [RSF]."

The Sudanese regular army and the rebel RSF have been fighting for control of the country since April 2023. The International Committee of the Red Cross said the ongoing hostilities in the country could lead to disease outbreaks and a fatal collapse of the healthcare system.

Sudan's Ambassador to Russia, Mohamed Siraj, expressed hope in an interview with Sputnik in early January that the armed conflict would end in 2025.

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Sudan and Russia have agreed "on everything" regarding the creation of a Russian naval base, Ali Youssef Al-Sharif said at a presser.

"We have reached an understanding on this issue. Therefore, the question is quite simple. I have nothing to add. We agreed and agreed on everything," Al-Sharif told a briefing following talks.

According to the Russian minister, Russia is looking for and finding opportunities to continue cooperation with African countries regardless of Western sanctions.

"Of course, we are looking for and finding in most cases opportunities to continue our mutually beneficial cooperation with countries in Africa and other continents, regardless of the criminal, unilateral, illegitimate actions of the collective West," Lavrov said, commenting on the impact of sanctions on partnerships with African states.

According to Lavrov, Western sanctions have shown the "unreliability of those who impose them," and their willingness to "undermine all the principles" of globalization once promoted by the West.

"Fair competition, the presumption of innocence, the inviolability of property, the free play of market forces, and so on - all of this has been crossed out overnight," the minister noted.

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Lavrov added that the long-term question now is "how to further develop the global economy - with the West or better without it." He pointed out the need "to have backup schemes for work in terms of banking operations, logistics, insurance."

"It is unlikely that any new currencies will appear in their classical sense, but digital currencies will, of course, gain weight. And supply chains and banking chains that will not be vulnerable will gain weight," Lavrov also said. "The globalization that the West advised everyone and even imposed on everyone has been destroyed by its own hands," the minister concluded.

Against this background, Russia is concerned about the implementation of agreements between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas, Lavrov said.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will resume military action in the Gaza Strip if Hamas does not release hostages by noon on Saturday.

"We are concerned about how the agreements between Israel and Hamas are being implemented," Lavrov told a press conference following talks with his Sudanese counterpart.

The parties accuse each other of violating the agreements, and, in addition, the Israeli leadership, along with US representatives, threatens to resume the military operation, the minister said.

"Of course, it will be very sad. We are trying to prevent this in our contacts with Arab colleagues and representatives of other countries at the UN," Lavrov said.