Sudan welcomes Turkish mediation with UAE, seeks economic ties
January 4, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Saturday welcomed a Turkish offer to mediate between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a bit to end the conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Turkey is reportedly mediating between Sudan and the UAE, aiming to persuade the UAE to cease supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In exchange, Sudan would withdraw its complaints against the UAE, which had been lodged with regional and international organizations.
Burhan met with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran to discuss President Tayyip Erdogan’s proposed initiative to end the 21-month war in Sudan.
Duran also met with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssif and Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim. The meetings covered bilateral relations and potential economic cooperation.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yousif stated that Burhan’s meeting with Duran “addressed bilateral relations, areas of joint cooperation, and discussed the Turkish initiative put forward by Erdogan to the Chairman of the Sovereign Council.”
He noted that the initiative aims to achieve peace in Sudan, which Burhan welcomed. He asked the Turkish official to convey this acceptance to President Erdogan and the Turkish Foreign Minister, who are overseeing the details of the initiative.
“The Turkish initiative can lead to real efforts to achieve peace in Sudan,” Yousif added.
Sudan demands that the UAE compensate for the destruction of infrastructure and the prolongation of the conflict caused by the military equipment it provides to the RSF. Sudan has also filed a formal complaint against the UAE with the UN Security Council.
During a phone call with Burhan on December 13th, the Turkish president expressed his willingness to mediate between Sudan and the UAE, which is accused of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in their fight against the Sudanese army.
Boosting economic ties
Youssif added Turkey is preparing to open a bank in Port Sudan to boost trade and will also open a headquarters for its aid agency. Three ships carrying 8,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid are en route to Sudan, he said.
Duran said Turkey was committed to supporting Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“What our country is doing is a process that requires concerted efforts and then working to gather regional actors and overcome the difficulties in the issue of ending the conflict in Sudan,” Duran said.
Ibrahim said Sudan was keen to develop cooperation with Turkey in areas including energy, agriculture and trade. He expressed dissatisfaction with the current level of trade exchange between the two countries.
Trade between Sudan and Turkey reached $625 million in 2022 before declining to about $200 million in the first half of 2024, while Turkish investments in Sudan total about $500 million.