Leaked Documents Reveal Details of Sudanese Government’s Contract with a Washington Lobbying Group

9th January 2025

2 minutes read

Leaked Documents Reveal Details of Sudanese Government’s Contract with a Washington Lobbying Group

The Sudan Leaks website has revealed that the Sudanese government paid $5 million to a U.S.-based lobbying and consulting group. The objective was to improve bilateral relations with the United States, polish the Sudanese government’s image among American decision-makers and international media, and leverage the group’s connections to advance Port Sudan’s agenda and foreign policy goals linked to the Sudanese conflict.

The website stated that hackers breached the email server of the Sudanese embassy in Washington and provided it with a collection of leaked documents, which will be released gradually. Among these are documents detailing the Sudanese government’s contract with a U.S. lobbying group through its embassy in Washington.

According to the leaked documents, the Sudanese embassy, represented by Mr. Absher Khidr Mohammed, an advisor at the embassy, signed a contract on October 30, 2024, with the American firm Ballard Partners, represented by Mr. Brian Ballard.

The agreed-upon responsibilities of the company include representing the Sudanese embassy in Washington, enhancing the government’s image through engagement with government officials, policymakers, and NGOs, securing its interests, and supporting political and commercial activities that influence U.S. foreign policy towards Sudan.

The firm’s role also includes providing media support to publish favorable reports about the Sudanese government in U.S. media outlets. These efforts aim to tip the balance in favor of the Sudanese government in the ongoing conflict by employing disinformation, tarnishing the reputation of opposing parties, and inciting hostility against them.

Ballard Partners is one of the leading U.S. lobbying firms specializing in governmental affairs. It has offices in Washington, several U.S. cities, and internationally in countries like Israel, Turkey, and Nigeria. Its team includes former Congress members and U.S. ambassadors.

Exploitation of State Resources to Serve Political Agendas

Sudan is experiencing a political vacuum and near-complete paralysis of state institutions. The Sovereignty Council has taken advantage of this situation to divert state resources for its own agenda amid the ongoing civil war. This includes massive arms purchases from countries like Iran and Turkey, securing internal loyalties, and offering concessions to foreign actors in exchange for support, all at the expense of Sudanese citizens enduring dire living conditions.

For example, the government recently rejected a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an international organization, which reported famines in at least five regions in Sudan and predicted that five more would face famine by May 2025. This response highlights the leadership’s prioritization of its own interests over those of the Sudanese people.

Meanwhile, port workers in eastern Sudan have protested by blocking the Suakin port and setting fire to the Othman Digna port to express their frustration over months of unpaid wages. Yet, the ruling authorities continue to deplete the country’s resources to maintain their power and grip on the state.