Sudan: agreement with Saudi Arabia, Riyadh in search of stability

The text provides for the creation of a mechanism intended to structure cooperation between the two countries. The detailed modalities of its operation and the sectors involved have not been specified in the available information, but the agreement gives an official framework to the bilateral relations between Riyadh and the Sudanese military authorities.

Since the start of the war in April 2023, the Sudanese army has been facing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as “Hemeti.” The conflict has caused a severe humanitarian crisis and displaced millions of people. It has also turned Sudan into a battleground for diplomatic and military rivalries among regional powers.

Riyadh Shows a Rapprochement with al-Burhan’s Camp

Saudi Arabia maintains close relations with the Sudanese military authorities. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman notably met with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022, before the war broke out.

The signing of the new agreement comes as both Sudanese camps seek to consolidate their external support. al-Burhan’s army benefits from relations with several states in the region, while the RSF are regularly associated with cross-border support and supply networks. These accusations are contested and do not alone establish the responsibility of the different actors.

Riyadh has also sought to position itself as a mediator in the efforts to resolve the Sudanese conflict. Together with the United States, the kingdom hosted discussions between the warring parties in Jeddah. However, these initiatives have not yet succeeded in bringing a lasting end to the fighting.

The creation of a Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation and Coordination could therefore strengthen political dialogue between Saudi Arabia and the authorities linked to the Sudanese army. It does not, in its current state, announce a formal military alliance or prove Saudi operational engagement in the conflict. The concrete impact of the agreement will depend on its content, its implementation mechanisms, and Riyadh’s stance on peace negotiations.

Marc Lavergne, a distinguished research director at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and a specialist in Sudan and the Gulf region, analyzes this rapprochement between the two countries and its implications for the evolution of the Sudanese war.