Putin agrees to visit al-Bashir in Sudan: news agency

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir, a news agency has said.

Sudan News Agency (SUNA) did not indicate a date for the visit but reported that President Putin would continue to support the energy, oil, gas, and gold mining sectors.

“The president extended an invitation to the Russian president to visit Sudan and discuss developing relations and building a strategic partnership,” a statement from SUNA said on Thursday.

Russia is Sudan’s strongest investment partner and the news agency recently reported that the two countries will be signing a nuclear arms deal.

President Putin, who was recently re-elected for a fourth term, had called Mr. al-Bashir to discuss bilateral relations.

The Sudanese leader is mostly shunned by Western leaders as he is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and crimes against humanity.

In November 2017, he asked President Putin to protect Sudan from what he termed as “aggressive acts” from the United States.

Earlier this month, SUNA also reported that Sudan’s electricity minister would be visiting Russia to sign a “roadmap” for building nuclear power stations in the North African country.