Saudi Arabia and Sudan will advance their bilateral relations by establishing a new strategic cooperation council, expected to launch after Eid Al-Adha.
The new body underscores the Kingdom’s steadfast support for Sudan’s security and stability. Riyadh has long been a strong advocate for achieving a ceasefire in Sudan, safeguarding state institutions from collapse, and preserving the country’s unity, territorial integrity, and national resources.
Strategic Cooperation
Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem announced on Sunday that logistical preparations for launching the joint Saudi-Sudanese Strategic Cooperation Council are complete, with the inaugural meeting set to take place after the Eid Al-Adha holiday.
The Strategic Cooperation Council was first agreed upon in March 2025, during a meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and the Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Makkah.
The council aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various fields, including political, economic, and developmental sectors. It also aims to coordinate joint efforts to support stability and development in both Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
In January 2026, Al-Burhan issued an official decree to formally reconstitute the Saudi-Sudanese Strategic Cooperation Council.
Robust Ties
Speaking at a farewell ceremony for the outgoing Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Ali bin Hassan Jaafar in Port Sudan, the Sudanese Foreign Minister hailed the strength of relations between Riyadh and Khartoum, reported Sudan News Agency (SUNA).
Salem said that Saudi-Sudanese ties have reached an advanced stage, reflected in the ongoing arrangements to establish a Strategic Cooperation Council, which he described as the “highest level of bilateral cooperation.”
The outgoing Saudi Ambassador, for his part, reiterated the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to supporting Sudan and safeguarding its security, stability and territorial integrity. He also commended the resilience of the Sudanese people and institutions in the face of challenges.
Saudi Support for Sudan
Saudi Arabia has spearheaded peace efforts to achieve security and stability in Sudan and preserve the country’s unity and legitimate institutions, in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
In light of this, the Kingdom has advocated for a Sudanese-Sudanese political solution based on respecting Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity and supporting the state institutions.
It has also made extensive efforts to resume political dialogue under the Jeddah Declaration, and the subsequent Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire, signed in May 2023 between the warring parties, in a bid to resolve the deepening humanitarian crisis and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
During a visit to Washington in November 2025, US President Donald Trump announced the US would work to end the conflict in Sudan, at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Sudan Conflict
The war in Sudan broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), triggering what the UN called “the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis.”
So far, the conflict has killed at least 59,000 people and left around 11,000 people missing, in addition to displacing 14 million people in Sudan and neighboring countries.
It has also driven the country into effective partition, with the SAF controlling the center, north and east, while the RSF holds the entire Darfur region and parts of Kordofan in the south.
In response to the dire humanitarian crisis, Riyadh has reinforced its commitment to the Sudanese people through substantial relief efforts.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has spearheaded these operations, delivering medical supplies, emergency shelter, and multi-phased food security programs to millions of displaced families and vulnerable communities across various Sudanese states.
Additionally, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has recently pledged a $10 million grant to provide safe and sustainable water in conflict-affected communities in Sudan.
