Port Sudan, April 19, 2026 (SUNA) — Vice-President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), Malik Agar, met on Sunday with the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, Reverend Stefan Igumnov, who is visiting Sudan, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Andrey Chernovol.  Agar expressed his pleasure at the meeting, underscoring that faith-based messages are universal, and that religious leaders consistently advocate peace and compassion as messengers of divine teachings. He called on the Reverend to support the Sudanese Christian community, stressing that the government maintains equal distance from all religions, and that religion constitutes a fundamental pillar of life. TSC Vice-President renewed his invitation for a future visit, highlighting the government’s need for support in promoting peace and harmony among peoples. For his part, the Reverend stated that his visit aims to strengthen Islamic–Christian relations between Sudan and Russia, within the framework of Russia’s policy of non-discrimination among religions, and the Church’s mission to foster peace and mutual understanding. He also affirmed readiness to provide humanitarian support, noting shared commonalities between the Sudanese and Russian peoples despite geographical distance.BH/BH