Turkish offer to resolve conflict in Sudan welcomed by Al-Burhan

The head of the Sudanese Army, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, has welcomed a Turkish initiative to resolve the war that has been raging against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, Sudan’s foreign minister has confirmed. Ali Youssef made his comment at a press conference after Al-Burhan met Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran in Port Sudan on Saturday.

“Sudan needs brothers and friends like Turkiye,” said Youssef. “This initiative can lead to real efforts to achieve peace in Sudan.”

Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered in early December “to intervene to resolve the differences between Sudan and the UAE, and to bring peace and stability to Sudan,” according to a statement issued by the Turkish presidency.

The Sudanese government, backed by the army, has repeatedly accused the UAE of supporting the RSF, a claim that is denied by Abu Dhabi. Last month, the Sudanese government accused the RSF of launching an attack from neighbouring Chad, using drones assembled in the UAE.

US lawmakers quoted the White House at the end of December as saying that the UAE had informed Washington that it would not arm the RSF in the war in Sudan.

After meeting with Burhan on Saturday, Duran announced that the peace process “requires coordinated efforts” and that Turkiye “must play its role in mobilising other regional actors to help overcome the difficulties to end this conflict.”

In a statement last week, the UAE welcomed Turkiye’s “diplomatic efforts” to “resolve the current crisis in Sudan.”

The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands, displaced more than 12 million others, and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

READ: 21 killed in attack by paramilitary group forces on Sudan shelter