Sudan ratifies Red Sea cooperation treaty

May 30, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan on Monday ratified the charter of the Council of Arab and African Coastal States of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, a treaty signed by eight countries last January.

The charter, which promotes economic integration and security cooperation, was signed on January 6, 2022, by Saudi Arabia, the initiator, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

“Sudan joined this Charter in recognition of the importance of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to international navigation, and the impact on the stability and growth of the countries that ratify this Charter,” reads a statement released by the foreign ministry.

Last January, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud dismissed that the signatory countries would form a joint military force but stressed the bilateral cooperation between the member states.

Sudan and Saudi Arabia conduct joint military exercises every year.

Riyadh showed deep concern over Russian efforts to establish naval bases on the Red Sea in Eritrea and Sudan, as they allow to easily reach the coasts of the biggest oil producer in the region.

Russia or other countries would seek to use the poor economic conditions of these countries to expand its influence in the region.

The economic development and trade between the Red Sea states would at least dissuade Asmara and Khartoum from accepting Russian advances.

Until now, Sudanese military leaders seem reluctant to implement a deal signed by the isolated former president Omer al-Bashir.

(ST)