Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef On Reports Of Weapons Purchases From Iran, Ukraine: We Buy Weapons From Any Country Willing To Sell Them To Us – Nobody Can Stop Us; We Have A Deal Allowing Russia To Build A 'Service Center' For Ships On The Red Sea

In a March 2, 2025, interview on BBC Arabic TV (U.K.), Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef stated that fighting in Sudan will continue during the month of Ramadan, which he described as "the month of war" in Islamic history. When asked about reports of an agreement with Russia to build a naval base on the Red Sea, Youssef clarified that the agreement, reached under President Bashir, is not for a “naval base” but rather a "service area" for ships, providing services to military naval vessels. He emphasized that Sudan does not want to become a colony of any nation, maintaining good relations with both Russia and Europe.

Regarding Sudan's military capabilities, Youssef pointed out that Sudan is under Western and American sanctions, which prevent the country from obtaining weapons from these nations. He questioned whether the Sudanese army is expected to simply surrender and explained that Sudan acquires weapons from countries that do not impose sanctions on it. When asked specifically about Iran and Ukraine, he asserted that Sudan has the right to import weapons from any country willing to sell them.

Interviewer: "Will the fighting [in Sudan] continue during the month of Ramadan, or will there be a ceasefire?"

Ali Youssef: "No, the fighting will continue obviously. Ramadan is the month of war in the history of Islam."

Interviewer: "Recently, you have declared an agreement with Moscow to establish a Russian naval base on the Red Sea. You said that an agreement about this had been reached. When do you expect..."

Youssef: "I did not say that an agreement had been reached. I said that this is an old agreement, not a new one. The agreement with Sudan was signed in the days of President Bashir. It is not a naval base, but a service area for ships. This agreement is supposed to be ratified by the parliament. At the moment, there is no parliament in Sudan, so when a parliament is elected, inshallah, it will ratify the agreement and it will come into effect."

Interviewer: "So how long will this be postponed?"

Youssef: "Until the transition period is over and there are elections."

Interviewer: "Why have you no reservations about hosting a Russian naval base? Will Sudan become a Russian hub in the African continent?"

Youssef: "We have very good relations with Russia in all areas, but we also have relations with Europe, and we have said that we do not want Sudan to become a colony of any country. Sudan has permanent interests with several countries. There are no eternal friendships or eternal enmities."

Interviewer: "But a naval base is an advanced step..."

Youssef: "It is not a naval base. It is a center for providing naval services to ships in specific times, according to the agreement."

Interviewer: "But it gives Russia a foothold in Sudan, right?"

Youssef: "No, it provides services to ships."

Interviewer: "Military ships."

Youssef: "Yes, military ships."

Interviewer: "Okay, so is that not a type of constant Russian presence in Sudan, which might be a cause of concern for..."

Youssef: "Why? What's the problem? There is a constant Russian presence in Syria, a constant French presence in Djibouti, a constant American presence in Djibouti and other countries. What is..."

Interviewer: "Isn’t it a form of disguised colonialism, settlement, or something like that?"

Youssef: "If so, all these countries are being colonized. Why don't you ask them? In Djibouti, there are five bases.

[...]

"There is a Western and American siege. They do not send weapons to Sudan. France and Britain do not send weapons to Sudan. What is the Sudanese army supposed to do? Surrender? It gets weapons from countries that do not sanction Sudan."

Interviewer: "So you received weapons from Ukraine and from Iran?"

Youssef: "We got weapons from anywhere in the world where they are willing to give us weapons. What's the problem with that?"

Interviewer: "From Ukraine and from Iran?"

Youssef: "I am telling you in a nutshell, and there's no need to repeat the question: We have the right to import weapons from anyone willing to sell us. We buy weapons."

Interviewer: "But won't Sudan become a scene for an indirect confrontation between Russia and Ukraine?"

Youssef: "It did not and it will not."

[...]

Interviewer: "What motivates you to use Ukrainian fighters?"

Youssef: "We have not been assisted by Ukrainian fighters. Who said we have?"

Interviewer: "News reports, like in the WSJ..."

Youssef: "Are these news reports like the Quran?"

Interviewer: "You acknowledged that you did buy weapons..."

Youssef: "I refuse to be told who we can deal with. We buy weapons. We buy them from whoever. Neither the BBC, nor Britain, or anyone else can prevent us from buying weapons."