After the Muslim Brotherhood seized power in June 1989 under the leadership of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, under the cover of the Sudanese army, Sudan became a safe haven for all Islamic movements, and became the preferred destination and a hotbed for their extremist leaders in the world, and the presence of the global organization of the Brotherhood penetrated Sudan. Iran was a strategic ally of Sudan, as the relationship began through Mahdi Ibrahim, the founder of the security service in Sudan, and Nafi Ali Nafi. Iran contributed to building the Sudanese Security and Intelligence Service, through Mahdi Ibrahim, who considered the mastermind of Sudanese-Iranian relations. It is noted that the Sudanese security service was built on the security system in Iran, in terms of administrative arrangement, training, and method of work, as officers were sent to receive training in Iran, and the latter also sent experts (Iranian officers) in order to work in the General Intelligence Service. Iran was supplying weapons to the Sudanese army, and through it to Hamas, and Palestinians were being trained in Sudan, as Sudan at that time became an Iranian training center, and the matter developed and began to manufacture weapons through Iranian factories. Iran established “military industrialization,” through which Iranian military industries were transferred to Sudan and from there to Hamas and what is known as the axis of resistance in Lebanon and Iraq. Also, Iran established “Husseiniyat” in Sudan, making it an entry point for spreading Shiism internally and externally. This was done in the name of the “Iranian Cultural Center”, where (45) centers were established, and many schools and organizations were built, which were not closed even after the severing of relations in 2016. In 2016, Sudan severed its relationship with Iran in solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The Sudanese embassy in Iran was suspended, and the other party had expelled the Iranian ambassador, and closed religious and cultural centers. However, security and military cooperation continued between the two countries in the field of military manufacturing. Sudan turned into a safe haven for those wanted in terrorism cases, and the Sudanese Security and Intelligence Service has established the “Arab-African Digital Media Union,” which was a front for Iran’s work in Sudan. Its board of directors was headed by Azza Omar Awad al-Karim, Minister of Communications and wife of Mohamed Atta al-Mawla, the head of national security service at that time. Under the activities of this union, the Iranians and what is known as the resistance axis were brought in to carry out security and military actions, and it was dissolved after the fall of Al-Bashir’s government. In 2020, Sudanese military intelligence restored relations with Iran. Several meetings were held between Sudanese Military Intelligence and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Sudan was represented by Major General Haj Nour, Director of Military Security. It was agreed to restore relations in the fields of “military industrialization and security coordination.” In addition to transferring weapons to the resistance axis, and allowing them to be smuggled to the Houthis and their leaders across the sea, without objection from the Sudanese forces. “Houthi leaders” were welcomed in Sudan with the knowledge of “Al-Burhan”, head of the Sovereignty Council and the Military Intelligence Department. After the outbreak of war between the army and the Rapid Support in April 2023, Iran began supplying the Sudanese armed forces with weapons, ammunition, fuel, drones, and all military needs and spying and surveillance equipment. This was done through the assurance of Sudanese businessman “Al-Sobat” and Lieutenant General “Mirghani Idris”, Director of Military Industrialization. Relations were normalized directly and publicly between the Sudanese armed forces and Iran, according to several Iranian conditions in exchange for their continued support for the Sudanese army, which Al-Burhan agreed to, including: 1/ Using the “Flamingo Naval Base” as a headquarters for boats smuggling weapons to the Houthis, and smuggling spare parts for manufacturing ballistic missiles and drones. 2/ Sudan facilitates the smuggling of weapons to Hamas, and this was done by Mr “Musleh Nassar Al-Rashidi,” who works in smuggling in coordination with Military Intelligence and the General Intelligence Service. 3/ Granting Iran a naval base on the Sudanese coast of the Red Sea for (100) years, and (one million) agricultural acres in Sudan. 4/ Reopening Iranian cultural centers, training centers, and military manufacturing in Port Sudan and the North. 5/ Sudan takes diplomatic positions that side with Iran and the axis of resistance. Also, Iran trained the “Al-Baraa bin Malik” brigades in unmanned aerial vehicles, espionage, and the use of cannons and guided missiles. It now stands directly behind what was called the “popular resistance” because it considers it the nucleus of a new militia based on the decision of “the Houthis and Hezbollah.” Implementation of what was agreed upon has actually begun, as Iran supported the Sudanese army with “Shahed 16” marches and others. In return, Sudan granted it a “naval base and agricultural lands,” and it became a crossing point for weapons to the Hamas and Houthi groups. The agreement that was concluded poses great risks to the world, as Iran has completely tightened its control over the Red Sea Coast. The Houthi group’s maritime piracy, threat to navigation, and indiscriminate attack on commercial ships have continued at the behest of Iran. Consequently, Sudan will become, by virtue of its geographical location, a transit area for weapons and a link and assembly area for terrorists, which may destabilize the security of the region and the region. If this agreement continues, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be exposed to the greatest security risk, because it will be besieged by Iran and its tools in all respects. Iran’s presence in Sudan increases its influence in Africa and opens up new naval and land bases for its own interest, but it will certainly return Sudan to decades of darkness and extremism.
