The key facts

  • Al-Burhan will lead the Sudanese delegation at the Russia–Africa summit in Moscow on October 28–29
  • The delegation will include the foreign and finance ministers, the intelligence director, and the head of the defense industry
  • Sudan's ambassador spoke of Russia's possible role in the country's reconstruction; the summit will discuss the 2027–2029 partnership plan

A visit against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council, will lead the country's delegation to the third Russia–Africa summit, to be held in Moscow on October 28–29. The state news agency SUNA, cited by Anadolu, reported this on Tuesday ..

Delegation composition and program

The delegation will include the ministers of foreign affairs and finance, the director of the General Intelligence Service, and the head of the Defense Industries System. Al-Burhan is expected to speak at the summit, hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and visit the Russian State University for the Humanities.

What Khartoum says and what is on the agenda

Sudan's Ambassador to Russia, Mohamed al-Ghazali al-Tijani Siraj, said the visit takes place amid growing cooperation between Khartoum and Moscow, especially at international forums. According to him, Russia could play a significant role in Sudan's reconstruction — primarily in energy, the oil industry, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, and higher education. He also noted that this year the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.

Scale of the summit

According to the ambassador, more than 36 heads of state and government have confirmed their participation in the summit. Discussions are expected on political and economic cooperation, including the proposed Russia–Africa partnership action plan for 2027–2029 and cooperation in the civilian use of artificial intelligence.

Context

Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions from their homes. The conflict has destroyed the country's infrastructure and led to one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises: acute food shortages and famine are being recorded in a number of areas. Against this backdrop, al-Burhan's participation in the Moscow summit is a notable foreign policy step by the head of the Sudanese state; sources have not yet reported any specific agreements with the Russian side.