Sudan’s Burhan, Turkish envoy discuss projects, aid, resumption of flights

April 21, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, discussed planned Turkish development projects, humanitarian aid delivery, and the resumption of airline services with Turkey’s ambassador, Fatih Yildiz, on Monday.

The meeting in Port Sudan focused on strengthening bilateral ties and followed up on talks Burhan held with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this month, officials said.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin stated in a press release that the talks covered “the course of bilateral relations, ways to enhance them, and the development projects Ankara plans to implement in Sudan in the coming period.”

Discussions included the planned restart of Sudan Airways flights from Port Sudan by early June, al-Amin added.

The officials also discussed humanitarian aid provided by Turkey and arrangements for delivering assistance via alternative routes into central and western Sudan, areas heavily affected by the ongoing conflict.

The western Darfur region faces a complex humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations estimating 79% of its population requires aid and protection due to the war and previous conflicts.

According to al-Amin, Burhan praised Turkey’s supportive positions towards Sudan in regional and international forums. He also thanked Ambassador Yildiz for a briefing on Ankara’s participation in the recent ministerial conference on Sudan held in London.

That conference, organised by Britain, France, Germany, and the EU on April 15, raised over 800 million euros ($850 million) for humanitarian aid but did not achieve a political consensus on ending the conflict peacefully.

Ambassador Yildiz confirmed the meeting reviewed the outcomes of Burhan’s visit to Turkey on April 12 for the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he met President Erdogan.

Yildiz stated those high-level talks are expected to move bilateral relations “to a new stage.” He announced that Turkish Airlines would resume direct flights to Sudan and that a branch of Turkey’s Ziraat Bank would reopen in Port Sudan.

Relations between Khartoum and Ankara have developed significantly in recent years. Erdogan had previously offered to mediate tensions between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.