The Face of Truth | Ibrahim Shaglawi Sudan in the New Saudi Equation

The conclusion of the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference in Riyadh yesterday reflected a notable shift in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s approach to its economic and geopolitical role in the region, while at the same time opening practical windows for developing countries, including Sudan, within the system of economic and social development.

Through this conference, Riyadh succeeded in consolidating its position as a reliable global platform for dialogue on mining and minerals, evidenced by the broad international participation that exceeded one hundred countries, and by transforming the discussion from the level of intentions and diagnosis to the level of administrative action that can be evaluated and measured.

This shift, as expressed by the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, reflects a Saudi vision that recognizes that the mining sector is no longer a traditional activity, but rather a developmental lever and a long-term investment in the future of the global economy, especially in light of the growing demand for critical strategic minerals.

From a developmental analysis perspective, the figures achieved by the conference—in terms of the number of participants, the value of agreements reaching approximately one hundred billion riyals, and the diversity of their fields between exploration, financing, research, innovation, and sustainability—cannot be read in isolation from the Kingdom’s strategy aimed at making mining the third pillar of the economy after oil and industry.

More importantly, the Kingdom presented a legislative and regulatory model that seeks to create an attractive environment through updating regulations, facilitating licensing, and stimulating exploration.

Within this landscape, Khartoum gained considerable political and developmental points. Sudan’s participation in the conference, led by the Minister of Minerals, Nour Al-Daem Taha, represents an advanced awareness of the importance of moving from general discourse on resources to building real strategic partnerships.

The bilateral meetings with the Saudi side, accompanied by affirmations of the depth of fraternal relations, reflected a shared desire to transform Sudan’s mineral potential into productive investment opportunities, based on geological research, capacity building, modernization of laboratories, and exchange of expertise.

For Sudan, participation in this conference came at an important political moment, where the need to establish peace intersects with the necessity of serious thinking about the day after.

 The Sudanese presence and the bilateral meetings that brought together the Sudanese Minister of Minerals and his Saudi counterpart carried political messages that go beyond the content of technical cooperation, reflecting a mutual interest in ensuring that Sudan’s reconstruction is carried out through productive partnerships that respect sovereignty and link investment to capacity building.

This partnership derives its weight from a factor of trust that cannot be overlooked. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys broad acceptance in the Sudanese collective consciousness, not only by virtue of historical and social ties, but also because of its balanced approach to the Sudanese crisis since the outbreak of the war. Riyadh has sought to support paths of de-escalation and humanitarian action, while maintaining a conscious distance from sharp polarizations, which has led it to be viewed as a partner seeking stability rather than exploiting the crisis.

This trusted moral capital grants any Saudi economic engagement in Sudan a higher potential for sustainability and societal acceptance.

The political significance of these meetings lies in their timing and context. As Sudan goes through a delicate phase of reorganizing its economic and developmental priorities, it finds in partnership with Riyadh a realistic model for how to employ natural resources within a stable developmental vision based on transparency and regional integration.

The announcement by the Chairman of the Saudi Gold Refinery Company of readiness to immediately enter into operations to purchase Sudanese gold, based on advanced expertise in supply chains and laboratories, further confirmed the transition of the relationship from the level of political courtesies to that of mutual economic interests.

Economically, both countries possess rare complementary opportunities.

Sudan has enormous natural resources in agriculture, mining, and livestock, in addition to a strategic location linking the Red Sea with the African hinterland. In contrast, the Kingdom possesses capital, institutional expertise, logistical infrastructure, and a clear developmental vision led by “Saudi Vision 2030.” The challenge and the opportunity alike lie in moving from a model of partial or seasonal investments to long-term strategic partnerships based on integrated value chains, localization of industries, knowledge transfer, and capacity building.

In the post-war phase, the Kingdom is likely to play a pivotal role in Sudan’s reconstruction, through engineering a developmental model that links political stability with economic growth. Sectors such as modern agriculture, food security, mining, energy, ports, and logistics services are expected to be key areas of cooperation. However, the success of this path will remain conditional upon Sudan’s ability to rebuild its institutions, unify the center of economic decision-making, and provide a clear legal and investment environment that guarantees transparency and the protection of shared interests.

Notably, the current convergence between Khartoum and Riyadh goes beyond the logic of traditional bilateral relations, touching upon a broader question regarding Sudan’s position within the ongoing regional transformations. Between efforts to stop the war, signals of developmental engagement, and a balance of mutual trust, a new equation is taking shape that places Sudan before a rare opportunity to redefine itself as a reliable partner rather than a theater of crisis.

According to #The_Face_of_Truth, Sudan is no longer merely an emergency file in regional politics, but has become part of the new Saudi equation, with all that it entails in terms of stakes, responsibilities, and horizons open to the day after the war.

Wishing you well and good health.

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Shglawi55@gmail.com