Republic of the Sudan

Brazil and Sudan established diplomatic relations in 1968. The conflicts between the northern and southern regions of Sudan (1955–1972 and 1983–2005) hindered the strengthening of bilateral ties. The peace achieved in 2005 through the conclusion of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) contributed to the intensification of rapprochement with Brazil. Bilateral relations gained momentum in the 2000s with the opening of the Sudanese Embassy in Brasília (2004), the first in South America, and the establishment of the Brazilian Embassy in Khartoum (2006).

Between 2010 and 2015, there was a significant number of visits by Sudanese officials to Brazil: two visits by then-Foreign Minister Ali Karti (2010 and 2013); two visits by the Minister of Petroleum Awad Al-Jaz (2011 and 2014); two visits by the Minister of Agriculture (2013 and 2015); and one visit by the Minister of Finance (2015). In March 2017, the Minister of Welfare and Social Security, Mashair Ahmed Elamin Abdalla, visited Brazil, where she met with the then Minister of Social Development, Osmar Terra, and representatives of the World Food Programme’s Center of Excellence Against Hunger in Brasília.

An important milestone in bilateral relations was the establishment in 2006 of the Brazil-Sudan Political Consultations Mechanism, under which meetings were held in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017, and 2018, alternating between Brasília and Khartoum. However, the “December Revolution” between 2018 and 2019, as well as the 2020 pandemic, hindered the continuity of high-level visits.

Bilateral technical cooperation initiatives are supported by the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed on May 11, 2005. Currently, the cooperation agenda with Sudan includes the projects “Improvement of Sugarcane Production in Sudan” and “Support for the Coordination of Technical Cooperation Projects and Activities in the Cotton Sector.”

In 2020, Brazil donated $250,000 to the African Union’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC-AU) as humanitarian assistance to support efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were used to acquire COVID-19 testing kits, which were donated to the Sudanese Ministry of Health.

Trade exchange between Brazil and Sudan consists predominantly of Brazilian exports. In 2024, bilateral trade amounted to $14.7 million (a 63% decrease compared to 2023), with a favorable balance of $14.1 million for Brazil. Brazilian exports totaled $14.4 million, mainly consisting of sugar (52%), poultry meat (29%), and agricultural machinery (16%). Brazilian imports from Sudan reached $300,000, mostly composed of raw vegetable materials (99%).

Chronology of Bilateral Relations

2020 – Donation of COVID-19 testing kits to the Sudanese Ministry of Health, acquired with funds donated by Brazil to the African Union Centers for Disease Control (October).

2018 – 6th Bilateral Political Consultations Meeting held in Khartoum, attended by the Deputy Undersecretary for Africa and the Middle East at Itamaraty and senior Sudanese Foreign Ministry officials (April).

2017 – Minister of Welfare and Social Security Mashair Ahmed Abdalla visits Brazil (March).

2017 – The 5th Bilateral Political Consultations Meeting is held in Brasília, with participation of the Undersecretary  of the Sudanese Foreign Ministry (April).

2017 – Launch of the technical cooperation project “Improvement of Sugarcane Production in Sudan,” in partnership with the Federal University of São Carlos (August).

2015 – Sudanese Minister of Agriculture visits Brazil.

2014 – Sudanese Minister of Petroleum Awad Al-Jaz visits Brazil

2013 – Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti visits Brazil (June).

2013 – Sudanese Minister of Agriculture to Brazil visits Brazil. He had previously visited Brazil in 2007 as Governor of Khartoum (March).

2012 – Sudanese Minister of Petroleum Awad Al-Jaz visits Brazil. The  President of the Sudanese National Assembly, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim El-Tahir, visits Brazil (November).

2011 – The  Governor of Khartoum visits  the Federal District of Brazil, during which na agreement establishing the two capitals as sister cities was signed to foster cooperation in sanitation, agricultural development, transportation, and other areas (April).

2011 – The 4th Bilateral Political Consultations Meeting is held in Khartoum, with participation of  Itamaraty’s Political Undersecretary III and senior Sudanese Foreign Ministry officials (December).

2010 – Prospecting mission by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) to Khartoum with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture (MDA), Embrapa, Fiocruz, and “Olé Brasil” (March).

2010 – Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ali Karti, visits Brazil, during which the Joint Commission between the two countries was established (November).

2010 – Osman Khalid Modawi, President of the Sudanese Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee, visits Brazil in reciprocity to a visit by Deputy Nilson Mourão.

2010 – Brazil, in partnership with the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, participates in the International Fair in Khartoum (February).

2010 – At the request of the Sudanese government, Brazil sends an electoral observation mission to Sudan (April).

2009 – The 3rd Bilateral Political Consultations Meeting is held in Brasília, including sessions to address cooperation areas

2009 – Official visit by Deputy Nilson Mourão to Sudan (Khartoum and Darfur), where he was received by President Al-Bashir.

2008 – Ambassador Omer Salih Abubakr assumes the Sudanese Embassy in Brazil.

2008 – The  Special Envoy of President Al-Bashir, Ali Ahmed Karti, visits Brazil .

2007 – The Political Undersecretary II visits Khartoum for the 2nd Bilateral Political Consultations Meeting.

2007 – The Governor of Khartoum visits Brazil and attends business events.

2006 – Ambassador Hélio Magalhães de Mendonça presents credentials.

2006 – The 1st Bilateral Political Consultations Meeting is held in Brasília

2006 – Brazil and Sudan sign Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations.

2006 – Brazil opens its resident Embassy in Khartoum.

2005 – Osman Ismail, then Sudanese Foreign Minister, takes part in the 1st South America–Arab Countries Summit (ASPA).

2005 – Brazil and Sudan sign Technical Cooperation Agreement.

2005 – Brazil sends military observers to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

2004 – Sudan opens its embassy in Brazil, the first in South America.

2003 – Brazil receives visit from the Minister of Transport of Sudan

2003 - Brazil receives visit from the Minister of Education  of Sudan

1968 – Brazil and Sudan establish diplomatic relations.