Rédaction Africa Links 24 with SudanTribune
Published on 2024-03-04 21:34:47
On March 4, 2024, reports surfaced claiming that Iran was seeking to establish a naval base on the Red Sea coast of Sudan in exchange for providing weapons and drones. The initial report, published by The Wall Street Journal on February 4, 2024, cited an unnamed Sudanese intelligence advisor who stated that Sudan had rejected the proposal due to concerns about straining relations with the United States and Israel.
However, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq refuted these claims during a diplomatic forum in Turkey. He stated that Sudan had not received any requests from Iran regarding a Red Sea naval base and emphasized that the report was false. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated and asserting that Iran had never made such a request.
Additionally, Sudanese military spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah dismissed the report, citing factual inaccuracies and stating that it was based on false information. He emphasized that the report was “absolutely untrue” and pointed out an incorrect name for an alleged Sudanese official.
These denials come at a critical time as Sudan and Iran are working to repair diplomatic relations after a seven-year rift. The two countries recently agreed to accelerate the process of reopening embassies, indicating a positive step towards improving their relationship.
Overall, the claims of Iran seeking a naval base in Sudan appear to be unsubstantiated as both countries have strongly denied the allegations. The conflicting statements from various officials highlight the complexity of diplomatic relations and the challenges of navigating international politics. It remains to be seen how this situation will evolve in the coming days and what impact it may have on the relationship between Sudan and Iran.
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