Port Sudan served as the venue for a crucial diplomatic dialogue as India and Sudan held their ninth Foreign Office Consultations on May 4, 2026. The talks, co-chaired by high-ranking officials, provided a platform to assess bilateral progress and explore enhanced cooperation amid shared regional priorities.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs’ update on X, Joint Secretary (WANA) from India and Sudan’s Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs led the proceedings. Delegates reviewed developments post the last meeting, prioritizing trade expansion, capacity enhancement, and human resource initiatives.
Key sectors under the spotlight were healthcare, education, mining operations, agricultural advancements, and SME growth. The two sides also deliberated on pressing regional matters, aiming for outcomes beneficial to both.
This round builds on recent high-level interactions, including External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s January meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim in New Delhi. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s stance on halting Sudan’s violence and resuming talks, while discussing ongoing humanitarian aid and exchanges in education and skills development.
The Sudanese minister was in India for the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ meeting. Historically, India-Sudan bonds are ancient, with evidence of trade links via Mesopotamia connecting ancient civilizations. Diplomatic relations formalized in 1955 with India’s Khartoum mission. A landmark contribution was Sukumar Sen’s oversight of Sudan’s 1953 elections, influencing their 1957 polls with Indian models.
As global dynamics shift, these consultations reinforce India’s strategic outreach in Africa, promising mutual growth in trade and development.
