On 9 October 2025, the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine hosted a public lecture titled “Stages of Development of Contacts between Ukrainians and Sudan: From Nubia to the Present Day.”

The event was held to mark the forthcoming 70th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of the Sudan and the 70th anniversary of independent Sudan’s proposal to establish direct diplomatic relations with the Ukrainian SSR.

The lecture was delivered by Oleksandr Mishyn, political scientist, African studies expert, and Counsellor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

In his presentation, Mr. Mishyn outlined the current political situation in Sudan, the course of the Third Civil War (since 2023), and the significance of the Sudanese direction within the context of Ukraine’s renewed policy towards the countries of the Global South.

The speaker also reviewed the main stages of the development of Ukrainian–Sudanese relations, with particular attention devoted to:

• the contribution of Ukrainian travelers and scholars to the study of Africa;

• the coverage of the Mahdist Uprising (1881–1899) in the Ukrainian press of the late 19th – early 20th centuries;

• the evolution of contacts between the Republic of the Sudan and the Ukrainian SSR;

• the participation of Ukrainian peacekeepers in UN missions in Sudan (UNMIS, UNMISS, UNISFA);

• and the prospects for further expanding Ukraine’s diplomatic presence in Sudan.
  
  

The audience included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine as well as students and postgraduate researchers in International Relations from Ukrainian higher education institutions.

The event formed part of the Diplomatic Academy’s thematic lecture series aimed at enhancing the awareness of Ukrainian diplomats regarding developments on the African continent and at further strengthening Ukraine’s partnership with the countries of the region.