Seemingly improving ties between Sudan’s army and Iran could put broader region in danger
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Salma Hossein
- . February 25, 2024
- . Update: February 25, 2024 11:51 am
In the first such high-profile diplomatic visit in seven years, Sudan’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Al Sadiq travelled to the Iranian capital of Tehran in early February and met Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, as per The New Arab.
The trip reflected the rapidly improving relations between Khartoum and Tehran as Sudan remains embroiled in a tough and deadly civil war since 15 April 2023. The conflict involves the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a paramilitary group.
Following their meeting, Raisi expressed his country’s support for a strong government in the African nation and for the preservation of its territorial integrity, reported IRNA. In addition, Amir-Abdollahian praised plans to reopen embassies.
SAF’s intention to get military help due to setbacks
Last October, Sudan and Iran agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties following a string of high-level communications between the two countries. Khartoum cut relations with Iran in 2016 following an assault on the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Tehran.
One of the main reasons likely to have prompted the Sudanese army to re-establish diplomatic relations with Iran is its intention to get military assistance as its forces have suffered significant setbacks in recent months against the opponent.
One of the most coveted supplies for the SAF is Iranian combat drones such as the Mohajer-6. Some of these entities have already been transported to Sudan, senior Western officials recently informed Bloomberg, and have been employed by the military.
Can Iranian drones bring a major change in Sudan war?
In fact, the paramilitary group has claimed to have shot down at least three such UAVs in Greater Khartoum. The low number of drones sent would not mean a big difference, said Wim Zwijnenburg, an expert in emerging military technologies.
But the export highlights “both a political interest from Iran to engage with Sudan and a perceived need by the SAF to strengthen their capacity of drones,” added Zwijnenburg, also the humanitarian disarmament project leader for the Dutch peace organisation PAX.
The implications that this so far limited supply of Iranian drones to the Sudanese military could have for the future of the conflict remains to be seen. This presence of armed drones is not expected to make a huge difference, but it can bolster the army’s capabilities.
Red Sea disruption and Israel-Hamas war in focus
For Tehran, one of the main interests in restoring diplomatic relations with Sudan and regaining some of its influence in the country is considered to be its strategic access to the Red Sea, a prominent and one of the busiest shipping lanes globally.
Sudan’s change of diplomatic course also has an impact on discussions involving Palestine. During the country’s acting Foreign Minister’s trip to Iran, Raisi condemned the move by some countries to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel, according to state agencies.
Ali Al Sadiq, in turn, criticised the Israeli military offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip and reiterated his country’s support for the Palestinian people. This comes despite the fact that in early 2021 Sudan agreed to begin normalising ties with Tel Aviv.
The ongoing Gaza conflict erupted on October 7 as Hamas launched an attack on southern Israeli cities, killing some 1,200 people and taking several others hostages. So far, Israel’s retaliatory strikes have claimed over 29,600 lives in Gaza, as per its health ministry.
