This article covers the political relationship between India and Sudan: the historical links the brief records, the opening of India's diplomatic representation in Khartoum, and recent visits and political interactions. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026, dated 16 April 2026.

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, relations between India and Sudan date back to ancient times. The brief states that evidence indicates there were contacts, and possibly trade, almost 5,000 years ago between the Nilotic and Indus Valley Civilizations.

The brief records several links from the modern period:

  • Two steel suspension rail bridges in Khartoum and Atbara were imported from India in the 1900s, and are still in use.
  • Since 1900, Indian experts have been involved in the development of Sudan's forestry sector.
  • The first Indian in Sudan, Luvchand Amarchand Shah, a Gujarati trader who imported goods from India, is believed to have come to Sudan from Aden in 1856.
  • Mahatma Gandhi, whom the brief calls the Father of our nation, visited Port Sudan in 1935 on his way to England, and met members of the Indian diaspora in Sudan.

Elections and the Sudanese Election Commission

The first Sudanese Parliamentary elections, in 1953, were conducted by Shri Sukumar Sen, then India's Chief Election Commissioner. The brief adds that the Sudanese Election Commission, formed in 1957, drew heavily on Indian election norms and laws.

Diplomatic representation

India opened diplomatic representation in Khartoum in March 1955. In April 1955, the interim Prime Minister of Sudan, Ismail Al Azhari, and several Ministers transited through New Delhi on their way to Bandung for the first Afro-Asian Relations Conference.

The brief also refers to the visit of President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in 2003. During the visit, a US$ 50 million LoC was extended to Sudan for Indian goods and services in power, solar energy, railways and laboratory equipment, which the brief describes as the first ever on a G-to-G basis.

Visit of Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim, 2026

Sudan's Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salim Ahmed Ibrahim visited India from 29 January-02 February 2026 to attend the India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting. He held talks with the External Affairs Minister in New Delhi on 30 January 2026, and met the Commerce and Industry Minister (CIM) in New Delhi on 31 January 2026.

Other recent visits and interactions

The brief lists the following recent visits and exchanges by Sudanese ministers and delegations:

  • Ms. Amal Salih Mohamed, Minister of Trade & Supply, visited India in July 2022 to attend the 17th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Growth Partnership.
  • Lt. Gen. Anan Hamed Mohamed Omer, Interior Minister and Director General of Police, visited India in November 2022 to attend the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing (NMFT).
  • Dr Jibril Ibrahim Mohammed, Minister for Finance and Economic planning, attended the virtual meeting of the Voice of Global South Summit (12-13 January 2023).
  • Dr. Abubaker Albushra, Agriculture Minister, visited New Delhi in March, 2023 to attend the Global Conference of International Year of Millets.
  • A delegation led by Mirghani Idriss, Head of Defence Industries Group, Sudan, visited Aero India 2023, held at Yelahanka Air Force Base in Bengaluru from 13-17 February 2023. The brief describes Aero India as India's biennial civil-military air show and aviation exhibition.
  • H.E. Mr. Mohieldien Naiem Mohamed Saied, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, led a high level delegation to Goa to participate in India Energy Week, 11-14 February 2025.
  • H.E. Eng. Almutsim Ibrahim Ahmed, Minister of Oil and Energy, visited India in end January 2026 to attend India Energy Week in Goa.