Erdogan, Sudan army chief hold talks on security and humanitarian crisis

The head of the Sudanese army and the country’s de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, was received in Ankara on Thursday by his ally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

The meeting focused on reinforcing cooperation between Turkey and Sudan, according to the Turkish presidency.

In a statement, President Erdogan said bilateral cooperation would be strengthened across several sectors, including trade, agriculture, defense industries, and mining. No further details were disclosed, aside from official photographs showing the two leaders at the presidential palace.

Turkey has been providing military and economic support to the Sudanese army in its conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). During the talks, President Erdogan again denounced what he described as “one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world,” stressing that acts amounting to crimes against humanity are being committed, particularly in the region of Al-Fasher.

He reiterated Turkey’s commitment to preserving peace, stability, and Sudan’s territorial integrity, while pledging to continue humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese population. “The objective is to achieve a ceasefire and establish lasting peace among the Sudanese people,” the presidency said.

The war, which erupted in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, creating what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. 

From the early stages of the conflict, Turkey has backed the regular Sudanese army, reportedly supplying military equipment such as drones, while the RSF are widely believed to be supported by the United Arab Emirates, a claim Abu Dhabi denies.