Sightings of Russian-speaking mercenaries in the Sudanese capital have raised concerns that the Kremlin is moving to prop up the autocratic regime of President Bashir.
The reports and photographs from Khartoum have emerged as anti-government protests there grow and the president faces the biggest threat to his military dictatorship since he seized power 30 years ago.
The apparent deployment of Russian muscle comes as the Kremlin seeks to develop trade, security and defence links to sub-Saharan Africa. In the past two years, it has authorised civil nuclear energy projects in the Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Sudan. Russian companies are also involved in a $400 million platinum-mining venture in Zimbabwe, a huge nuclear plant to be constructed in Egypt, and a $220 million bauxite project
