AGrade A: Official recordStrongest record: official record
3 documented ties · 2 steps from the SAF
Listed because official defence, intelligence and banking cooperation is documented; no arms transfer by the Azerbaijani state is established.
Sudan's Ministry of Defence reported that on 29 Sep 2026 the defence minister met Azerbaijan's defence minister in Baku during the sixth ADEX defence fair, accompanied by the deputy director-general of the Defense Industries System. They 'discussed military and defence cooperation', reviewed 'the agreements and memoranda of understanding concluded recently', and Sudan's minister received 'an official invitation to attend the largest joint training manoeuvre, which will see new weapons operated for the first time'. The headline reads 'Sudan and Azerbaijan raise the level of military and defence cooperation'. An Azerbaijani outlet citing Azerbaijan's defence ministry reports the same meeting as a discussion of 'military-technical cooperation'.
Response
No response is recorded. Named parties have not yet been asked for comment.
Records
2
Each record carries its own grade. A grade describes the source for that record, not the actor.
AGrade A: Official record
Intelligence and central-bank agreements (2025-2026); the unnamed Azerbaijani company in the US sanctions text
2024-11 to 2026-09
Sudan's intelligence director discussed 'security and intelligence cooperation' with Azerbaijan's State Security Service at the Baku Security Forum (22 Sep 2026; he also led the delegation in Sept 2025). The Central Bank of Sudan signed a memorandum on banking cooperation with the Central Bank of Azerbaijan in Baku on 17 Jun 2026, covering correspondent relations and bank branches. Burhan attended COP29 in Baku on 12 Nov 2024. Separately, the US Treasury stated in January 2025 that a Sudanese procurement official coordinated the acquisition of Iranian-made unmanned aircraft from 'an Azerbaijani defence company' which it did not name.
Why this grade
Grade A is for the fact that the page announced this. The page was identified as official by its name and content; no verification badge was detected.
Response
No Azerbaijani statement on the US allegation found in earlier passes.
›Research notes
Source alignment: official SAF-side channel. Grade applies to the fact that the announcement was made, not to its content. Nothing in these posts connects the Azerbaijani state to the company in the US text; the company remains unnamed after four passes. The pattern of defence, intelligence and banking agreements within fifteen months is new to the dossier.
Defence ministers' meeting at ADEX 2026 in Baku; 'recently concluded agreements and memoranda'
2026-09-28 to 2026-09-29
Sudan's Ministry of Defence reported that on 29 Sep 2026 the defence minister met Azerbaijan's defence minister in Baku during the sixth ADEX defence fair, accompanied by the deputy director-general of the Defense Industries System. They 'discussed military and defence cooperation', reviewed 'the agreements and memoranda of understanding concluded recently', and Sudan's minister received 'an official invitation to attend the largest joint training manoeuvre, which will see new weapons operated for the first time'. The headline reads 'Sudan and Azerbaijan raise the level of military and defence cooperation'. An Azerbaijani outlet citing Azerbaijan's defence ministry reports the same meeting as a discussion of 'military-technical cooperation'.
Response
Azerbaijan's defence ministry confirms the meeting in its own readout (as relayed).
›Research notes
Two sources from the two governments, so grade B for the fact of the meeting and its subject. The second source was read through a summariser, which gave the year as 2023; the event it describes (sixth ADEX, Sudan's current defence minister) is the 2026 one. Which agreements were 'recently concluded' is not stated. No delivery, contract or company is named.
OFAC designates Burhan, Ahmad Abdalla and Portex Trade Limited; cites Iranian-made UAVs obtained from an Azerbaijani defense company. home.treasury.gov↗
AGrade A: Official record
Central Bank of Sudan signs a banking memorandum with the Central Bank of Azerbaijan in Baku. facebook.com↗
AGrade A: Official record
Defence ministers of Sudan and Azerbaijan meet at ADEX 2026 in Baku; DIS's deputy director-general attends. facebook.com↗
BGrade B: Corroborated
1 more event below grade A (corroborated, single-source or unverified). Change “Evidence shown” to see it.
Geography
Tags come from the recorded jurisdiction and from place names in the records. Coordinates on the map are approximate.
Based in
Azerbaijan
Also named
Iran (1)
Places
Baku
Position in the network
Derived by analysing the documented relationships. Nothing in this section is a finding.
Still connected to the SAF when only official records are counted.
No direct tie is documented. Basis: shared intermediary (via General Intelligence Service (GIS) and Central Reserve Forces, Central Bank of Sudan, Defense Industries System (DIS)).