Sudan: leader of armed forces welcomes Turkey’s mediation plans
The leader of the armed forces in Sudan has welcomed Turkey’s initiative to mediate between themselves and their opposition – the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
After 20 months of destructive and destabilizing conflict in Sudan, Abdel Fattah Al Burhan told the Turkish Foreign Minister that they accept the mediation offers from Turkish President Erdogan, according to Africa News and the Associated Press on January 6.
Reported by Garowe Online, the Turkish President initially held phone talks with Burhan, urging him to allow Ankara to help establish “peace and security” in the war-torn state. Since then, the Sudanese Foreign Minister – Ali Youssef – has said “Sudan needs brothers and friends like Turkey”.
According to the Sudan Tribune, Turkey’s role will involve mediating with the United Arab Emirates, who are believed to provide support and relief for the RSF. In exchange, Burhan’s government will have to drop claims made about the UAE in international organisations.
The Sudanese Civil War began following the ousting of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, who had run the country since 1989. The military coup created a council of generals to run Sudan as an interim government. This government was dominated by two men: General al-Burhan, the head of the armed forces and in effect the president; and, his deputy and leader of the RSF, General Dagalo, better known as “Hemedti”. After disagreements over the direction of the country and the proposed move towards civilian rule, tensions between the country’s armed forces and Hemedti’s RSF descended into a twenty month civil war.
The BBC reported in June 2024 that the war has claimed over 15,000 lives and over 9 million people have been displaced. Recent fears revolve around food insecurity and famine, as well as continued claims of human rights abuses.
However, Sudan appears to have become a dwindling concern for the international community who continue to focus on the Russo-Ukrainian war and the Israeli offensive in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon.
However, Turkey’s proposal to mediate between the two sides poses a possible reinvigoration of the peace process in Sudan – the success of which remains to be seen.
Africa News and the Associated Press
