Sudanese Envoy Secretly Visits Israel Amid Normalization Talks

Reports indicate that Lt.-Gen. Al-Sadiq Ismail, an envoy of Sudan's military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, secretly visited Israel last week to discuss reviving normalization efforts under the Abraham Accords. This visit aimed to improve al-Burhan's image with the new U.S. administration and address tensions with the UAE. During the discussions, Ismail expressed Sudan's desire to complete the normalization process in return for Israeli support, especially concerning military aid amid ongoing civil conflict in Sudan. He emphasized that Sudan's recent overtures to Iran were a necessity driven by international isolation and military pressures. However, the Sudanese government publicly denied sending any official envoy, calling the media reports 'completely false.' Despite the denial, the details of Ismail's visit suggest urgent efforts to secure foreign support in a challenging political landscape.