Turkey’s Diplomatic Push: Deputy Foreign Minister’s Visit to Port Sudan to Facilitate Mediation with UAE

 Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran is scheduled to visit Port Sudan on Saturday for high-level discussions with Sudanese officials. The visit comes as part of Turkey’s efforts to mediate between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help resolve ongoing tensions and end the conflict in Sudan.

This diplomatic initiative follows a phone conversation on December 13 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. During the call, Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to serving as a mediator between Sudan and the UAE. Ankara has long expressed its interest in helping to resolve the complexities surrounding the conflict and the regional rifts affecting Sudan’s stability.

A Sudanese diplomatic source informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Duran's visit is specifically focused on advancing Turkey’s mediation efforts. The Turkish deputy foreign minister is expected to present a document outlining proposals for dialogue, which will later be shared with the UAE. The UAE has already expressed support for Turkey’s mediation initiative, stating that it is ready to coordinate with Ankara to bring an end to the conflict that has devastated Sudan.

Sudan’s position on mediation remains clear. The Sudanese government, according to the source, is committed to upholding the terms of the Jeddah Declaration, signed on May 11, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This declaration laid out the framework for peace and an eventual ceasefire, and Sudan remains determined to implement its terms as part of any future resolution.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yusuf highlighted the significance of Duran’s visit, which is seen as a demonstration of the strengthening ties between Sudan and Turkey. He noted that the visit is not just diplomatic in nature but also a symbol of Turkish solidarity with the Sudanese people during this challenging time. Yusuf underscored that the visit further solidifies the growing relationship between the two nations and reflects their commitment to mutual support.

The diplomatic push coincides with comments from Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan during Sudan's Independence Day celebrations. Al-Burhan expressed Sudan's openness to engaging in any sincere efforts to resolve the conflict, but he also reiterated his commitment to securing a military victory for Sudan. In his speech, he made it clear that the Sudanese government rejects any possibility of coexisting with the RSF or its supporters, referring to them as “killers, criminals, and their backers.”

As Duran arrives in Port Sudan, all eyes will be on how his discussions and proposals can pave the way for a peace process that ends the war and stabilizes Sudan, with Turkey playing a crucial role in this delicate diplomatic balancing act.