Sudan's trade committee with Russia meets for the first time since the civil war, and Russian firms eye its ports and railways. Also here: the Sahel's exit from the ICC, M23's capture of a Congolese mining town and Machar's treason trial.
Russian investment in Sudan is back on the table. On September 23 the Sudan-Russia ministerial trade and economic committee met in Moscow for the first time since the country’s civil war began, with Mining Minister Nur Al-Daim Mohamed Taha leading the Sudanese side and Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov the Russian one. A day earlier Ambassador Andrey Chernovol told Sudan’s transport minister that major Russian companies were ready to invest in ports, railways and aviation. The issue also reports accusations that Turkish media amplified unsubstantiated claims of Wagner raids into Sudan from the Central African Republic.
The Africa Now bulletin of September 23, 2025 sets these developments against 26 other stories from across the continent, drawn from official statements, government reports, court proceedings and regional media.
Scope
In the Sahel, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from the Rome Statute, calling the International Criminal Court “an instrument of neocolonial pressure,” and their justice ministers unveiled a Sahel Criminal Court for Human Rights to replace it. Ukraine condemned the visit of the three countries’ ambassadors to Crimea, where they discussed trade and investment with Sergey Aksyonov.
The Democratic Republic of Congo appears through its minerals. Félix Tshisekedi told the UN General Assembly that US mediation with Rwanda does not mean “auctioning off” the country’s resources, M23 rebels seized the tin and gold mining town of Nzibira in South Kivu, and Kinshasa announced it will lift its cobalt export ban from October 16 under a quota system.
South Sudan’s treason trial of Riek Machar opened with the former vice president in a cage, after clashes that left at least 48 dead. Guinea’s constitutional referendum drew about 90.6% support in early counts, Peter Mutharika led Malawi’s presidential race, and Cyril Ramaphosa demanded recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN. Russia’s softer presence runs through the issue as well, from Sergey Karjakin’s chess clubs in four African countries to Algeria’s switch from French to Russian wheat.
Excerpt
Russian Ambassador Andrey Chernovol expressed the readiness of Russian companies to invest in Sudan’s transport infrastructure during meetings with Infrastructure and Transport Minister Saif al-Nasr al-Tijani Haroun. September 22 discussions covered expanded cooperation in transportation, ports, and logistics.
The Sudanese minister emphasized openness to serious foreign investments, noting ministry aspirations for strategic Russia partnership in modern ports, industrial and tourist cities, and transit services. Chernovol highlighted major Russian company readiness to invest in port development, railways, and aviation, with the minister praising Russian support for Sudanese authorities.
Sergey Konyashin, Russia Returns to Business in Sudan (Africa Now, Démarche, September 23, 2025)