Sudan’s army leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has expressed his support for a Turkish proposal to help end the ongoing conflict between his forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been ravaging the country for over 20 months.
The offer came in early December when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Burhan, suggesting that Turkey could play a role in restoring peace and stability in the war-torn nation.
During a meeting in Port Sudan on Saturday, Burhan conveyed his government’s approval of Turkey’s peace initiative to Turkey’s deputy foreign minister, Burhanettin Duran.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef, who was present at the meeting, confirmed that Burhan had asked Duran to deliver Sudan’s gratitude for Turkey’s offer to President Erdogan.
Youssef highlighted Sudan’s need for supportive international partners, particularly countries like Turkey, to assist in achieving peace.
“The initiative has the potential to bring about real peace in Sudan,” he stated.
In the call with Burhan, Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s willingness to mediate disputes, not only within Sudan but also between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been accused by the Sudanese government of supporting the RSF.
The UAE has consistently denied these allegations, although external analysts have voiced similar concerns.
Erdogan’s intervention aims to prevent Sudan from becoming a battleground for external influence, a sentiment echoed in Turkey’s official statements.
The Sudanese government has accused the RSF of using drones allegedly assembled by the UAE, with some reports suggesting the RSF may be launching them from neighboring Chad.
The UAE has denied any involvement in arming Sudan’s paramilitaries, and the White House recently stated that the UAE informed the US that it would not supply weapons to Sudan’s warring factions.
After meeting with Burhan, Turkey’s Burhanettin Duran emphasized the need for a unified effort to resolve the conflict.
He affirmed that Turkey was ready to work with regional actors and play a central role in fostering peace and ending the war.
The UAE, while denying any wrongdoing, welcomed Turkey’s diplomatic push.
The UAE foreign ministry stated that it was fully prepared to collaborate with Turkey’s efforts and any other diplomatic initiatives to end the crisis and reach a lasting solution.
The war in Sudan, primarily between Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 12 million people.
The conflict has pushed Sudan to the brink of famine, with international analysts warning that external involvement, if not handled carefully, could exacerbate the situation rather than bring about a peaceful resolution.
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