Port Sudan, Sudan – Sudan and Iran have re-established full diplomatic relations, exchanging ambassadors after an eight-year hiatus.
The Sudanese government announced on Sunday that de facto leader and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had welcomed Iran’s new envoy, Hassan Shah Hosseini, to the country. Concurrently, Sudan appointed Abdelaziz Hassan Saleh as its ambassador to Tehran.
The restoration of ties comes amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The government, aligned with the military, has been seeking international support to counter the RSF.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin hailed the exchange of ambassadors as the “beginning of a new phase” in bilateral relations. The two nations severed diplomatic ties in 2016 in solidarity with Saudi Arabia following an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
Iran has been actively mending fences with its Arab neighbors in recent months. The wider Middle East has witnessed a flurry of diplomatic activity, with countries seeking new alliances and partnerships.
Sudan’s complex political landscape has also seen involvement from various external actors. The United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Turkey have backed the Sudanese army, while the United States has expressed concerns over potential Iranian arms shipments to the military.
Russia has also deepened its ties with Sudan, shifting its stance from the RSF, which previously had links to the Wagner mercenary group.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has had devastating humanitarian consequences. With over 11 million people displaced and tens of thousands killed, the country faces a dire crisis.
