Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday submitted to the State Duma for ratification an agreement with Sudan on the creation of a logistical support point of the Russian Navy on its territory. The text is posted in the Duma electronic database.
According to the document, Sudan agrees to establish and deploy in its territory "logistics support point, as well as the development and modernization of its infrastructure for repair, resupply and recreation of crew members of Russian warships".
To accommodate the point, the Sudanese side will transfer the territory located within the boundaries of the lands and water areas specified in the annex to the agreement, with the exception of certain areas, as well as the necessary real property for free use for the entire duration of the agreement. The territory of the logistical support point will include the coastal zone, the water area and the zone of the mooring front.
The maximum number of military and civilian personnel in the logistics point should not exceed 300, and an increase is possible by agreement with Sudan. The maximum number of warships allowed to stay in the logistics point at the same time is four, "including warships with a nuclear power plant, subject to nuclear and environmental safety standards". Ship calls are made upon notification at least 12 hours in advance, and six hours in advance if operationally necessary.
Security regime
The agreement grants the Russian side the right to import and export "any weapon, ammunition, equipment, materials and other property necessary for the operation of the station" through Sudanese seaports and airfields, and the security of its personnel, members of their families and Russian contractors. No duties are levied.
A separate article of the agreement is devoted to the security of the logistics point. Thus, the Sudanese side will provide external security for the area. The Russian side will be responsible for the defense of the water area borders, air defense and internal security. Personnel of the logistics point will have the right to carry and use weapons in the area in accordance with the procedure prescribed by Russian legislation.
The document stated that after the signing of the agreement, the parties would conduct an inventory of the property to be transferred to Russia within six months. Within a year, all property issues must be settled. The financial costs associated with the registration of the necessary documents and technical documentation will be borne by the Sudanese side.
The agreement is valid for 25 years and is automatically renewable for 10-year periods if neither party notifies the other one year prior to the expiration of the next period in writing through diplomatic channels of its intention to terminate the agreement.
About the agreement
At the beginning of December 2020, it became known that Russia signed an agreement with Sudan on the creation of a logistical support point for the Russian Navy on its territory. It is intended for repair, resupply and rest of the crew members of Russian warships.
On June 1, Sudan announced the revision of the agreement with Russia on the establishment of the base in the Red Sea. At the time, Lieutenant General Mohammed Usman al-Hussein, Chief of the General Staff, said in an interview to the Sudanese TV channel Blue Nile that Khartoum was negotiating with Moscow to revise the agreement "to take into account its interests and benefits.
On June 10, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the text of the Russian-Sudanese agreement could change, but Moscow confirmed its interest in cooperating with Khartoum. She recalled that the said agreement was signed by the authorized representative of the Sudanese Transitional Military Council in Khartoum on July 23, 2019, that is, after the change of the political regime in Sudan (there was a military coup in Sudan on April 11, 2019, the army ousted President Omar al-Bashir, who had been in power in the country for 30 years). However, the document has not yet been ratified in Sudan because the country does not have a legislative body with such powers. Accordingly, the text of the agreement may be amended by agreement and at the discretion of the parties before it enters into force.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS