In a diplomatic move, Sudanese Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan welcomed Iran’s new ambassador to Sudan, Hassan Shah Hosseini, in Port Sudan, signalling a deepening relationship after an eight-year hiatus.
This event occurred a day after al-Burhan had sent a Sudanese ambassador to Iran, further cementing the newly resumed diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The bilateral relations were rekindled in October last year as Sudan, embroiled in a 15-month-long war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), seeks to bolster its alliances.
The military-backed Sudanese government officially announced this diplomatic engagement, marking a new phase in the bilateral relations aimed at mutual benefits amidst regional conflicts.
Sudan severed its ties with Iran in 2016, aligning with Saudi Arabia after the latter’s embassy in Tehran was attacked.
However, the regional dynamics shifted when Saudi Arabia and Iran restored their relations in March 2023, following a China-mediated agreement. This thaw in relations has prompted Iran to reach out to its Arab neighbours, enhancing or renewing ties.
The ongoing conflict in the African country, which has escalated since the capital Khartoum became a battleground, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, with estimates reaching up to 150,000 casualties, according to U.S. envoy Tom Perriello.
The war has also triggered the world’s worst displacement crisis, with over 11 million people displaced and the country on the brink of famine, as per United Nations (UN) reports.
