Africa Intelligence exposes Al-Burhan’s contract with an American company for a monthly $ 50,000

The French website “Africa Intelligence” revealed that the Sudanese Army Commander-in-Chief, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, had acquired the services of one of the American political lobbying companies that was previously hired by the ousted president, Omar Al-Bashir, in (2017).

According to the website, Al-Burhan sought, during his participation in the twenty-ninth Conference of the Parties (COP 29), on November 12th, 2024, to secure channels of communication with the company for similar services, by activating communication with governmental and judicial bodies in the United States to get rid of or reduce the sanctions.

The website shared that the step comes within the framework of Al-Burhan government’s attempt to gain back control over the capital, Khartoum, from the Rapid Support Forces. Therefore, the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, are working to increase their communication initiatives.

The report indicated that the lobbying firm “Ballard Partners”, which was hired by the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, on behalf of General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, in late October, hired a second company, “VS Global”, to subcontract part of this contract at a value of ($50,000) per month for more than six months. Until April (2025), and for ($120,000), “VS Global” will assist “Ballard Partners” in its “advisory activities for Sudan” and “advocacy for the United States government.”

According to the report, the contract became effective on (November 1st) and was published in the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) registry of the US Department of Justice. It was passed between Brian Ballard, who is known to be close to US President-elect Donald Trump, and VS Global’s Chairman, Vinoda Basnayake, a former member of the lobbying firm “Squire Patton Boggs”.

The firm “Squire Patton Boggs” had previously worked in (2017) for the administration of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (1989-2019). It had unsuccessfully tried to lift US sanctions on Sudan.

The agreement includes that sanctions affecting the Sudanese Armed Forces will also be the focal point of Vinoda Basnayake and VS Global’s lobbying work with the future Trump administration.

Following the beginning of the war in Sudan – April 2023, several executives and entities linked to both warring parties have been placed under punitive measures by the US Treasury Department.

Legal Offensive

In parallel with this legal offensive in Washington, the Sudanese Armed Forces filed a complaint against Chad before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in early November.

To counterbalance the media influence of the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces have also launched a large-scale communications operation that began in the summer, aiming to compensate for the delays it has been suffering in this area. Until now, the Army has been very reluctant to open its doors to the press, and had recently accompanied several teams of journalists to the city of Omdurman, where it has launched an offensive aimed at regaining control over the capital, Khartoum, from the Rapid Support Forces.