Sudan–Turkey Trade Declines to $390 Million
Sudan’s Ambassador to Turkey, Nader Youssef, stated that Sudan and Turkey face shared internal and external challenges and threats that require coordinated cooperation to confront them.
He noted that both countries agree on the necessity of preserving Sudan’s unity and preventing its fragmentation, as well as securing the Red Sea region. He added that Turkey views Sudan as a strategic location representing a gateway to the African continent and the Sub-Saharan region.
The ambassador revealed that bilateral trade volume has declined to approximately $390 million in 2025 due to the war, after plans had been in place to increase it to over $1 billion. Trade volume had reached about $680 million in 2022.
Speaking at the Sudanese–Turkish Diplomatic Social Cultural Forum, held on Sunday in Port Sudan, Youssef said the Turkish government had supported Sudan from the earliest days of the conflict and was among the first countries to provide humanitarian assistance, dispatching a relief aircraft carrying nearly 60 tons of medicines and medical supplies during the early months of the fighting.
He added that Turkish public opinion has moved beyond what he described as misleading narratives promoted by some Western media outlets regarding the situation in Sudan, noting that Turkish media now present a more accurate portrayal, including coverage of violations against civilians.
Youssef also pointed to demonstrations and solidarity events held in Turkey in support of Sudan, which conveyed messages to the international community calling for support of legitimacy in the country.
He praised the role of the Turkish Ambassador to Khartoum, Fathi Yildiz, in strengthening bilateral relations, noting that the recent visit of the Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to Ankara was part of ongoing consultations and resulted in granting visa exemptions for Turkish businesspeople entering Sudan.
The ambassador further disclosed that Turkey has provided 63 scholarships for the current academic year, adding that the number of Sudanese students in Turkey stands at approximately 5,300 students.
