Sudan's Diplomatic Pivot: Implications for Regional Security.
In a significant diplomatic shift, Sudan's acting foreign minister, Ali Al Sadiq, recently visited Tehran to meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, marking the first high-level diplomatic visit in seven years. The warming relations come amid Sudan's ongoing civil war, with Iran expressing support for a strong government and the preservation of Sudan's territorial integrity. The re-establishment of diplomatic ties last October signals a departure from Sudan's previous alignment with Saudi Arabia. The rocky relationship between Sudan and Iran, severed in 2016, saw Sudan leaning towards the Saudi orbit. However, the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March, under Chinese mediation, created an opening for other Arab countries to follow suit. The timing of this diplomatic shift is crucial, occurring as Sudan faces the threat of a civil war between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid ...