Sudan’s Army Chief has voiced his approval of Turkey’s offer to mediate the brutal 20-month war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef.
Earlier in December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had proposed aiding Sudan in achieving “peace and stability” during a call with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Erdogan expressed Ankara’s readiness to assist in resolving the ongoing conflict that has ravaged the African nation.
At a meeting in Port Sudan on Saturday, Burhan asked Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran to relay Sudan’s acceptance of the peace initiative to Erdogan. Youssef later told reporters that Sudan “needs friends like Turkey” and expressed hope that the proposal could pave the way for peace talks.
Erdogan’s call in December also highlighted Turkey’s potential role in easing tensions between Sudan and the UAE. The Turkish presidency’s statement noted that Turkey aims to prevent Sudan from becoming a battleground for foreign interference.
The Sudanese government has long accused the UAE of providing support to the RSF, a claim echoed by some analysts. The UAE has consistently denied these allegations. Most recently, Sudan alleged that RSF forces used drones reportedly assembled in the UAE and launched from Chad.
Amid these tensions, U.S. officials disclosed last month that the UAE had assured Washington it would refrain from supplying arms to Sudan’s paramilitary groups. The statement followed mounting criticism from U.S. lawmakers over the Gulf nation’s involvement in Sudan’s conflict.
Following his discussion with Burhan, Turkey’s Duran underscored the need for collective regional efforts to resolve the war. He reiterated Turkey’s willingness to mobilize neighbouring actors to facilitate an end to the hostilities.
Meanwhile, the UAE publicly welcomed Turkey’s diplomatic overtures last week. In a statement, the UAE foreign ministry affirmed its readiness to work with Turkey and other diplomatic initiatives to bring about a resolution to Sudan’s crisis.
The conflict, which erupted between Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced over 12 million people, and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Analysts caution that outside involvement could exacerbate the crisis and prolong the suffering of Sudan’s population.
