Erdogan Offers Mediation to Resolve Dispute Between Sudan and the UAE

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his country’s mediation to resolve the dispute between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, similar to Turkey’s role in resolving the crisis between Somalia and Ethiopia regarding the latter’s agreement with the Somaliland region to use its coast on the Red Sea.

Erdogan said, in a phone call on Friday with Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, that “Turkey could mediate to resolve the dispute between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.” According to a statement from the Turkish presidency, Erdogan discussed the relations between Turkey and Sudan, as well as regional and global issues, with al-Burhan during the phone call. Erdogan emphasized that achieving peace and stability in Sudan, preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and preventing it from becoming a battleground for external interventions are fundamental principles for Turkey.

Erdogan also highlighted that Turkey mediated the resolution of the dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, and the agreement between the two countries will contribute to peace in the region.

Sudanese military leaders have repeatedly accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and supplying them with weapons and equipment. Sudan’s representative to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idris Al-Harith, formally filed a complaint against the UAE, accusing it of planning to ignite the war and supporting the RSF with assistance from Chad, calling for its condemnation. However, Abu Dhabi dismissed these accusations, describing them as “groundless claims” that lacked reliable evidence.

In contrast, the UAE sent a message to the UN Security Council on April 21, emphasizing that the spread of misinformation and false narratives aims to evade responsibility and undermine international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan after a year of conflict between the army and the RSF. The UAE affirmed that it “will remain committed to supporting a peaceful solution to the conflict in Sudan, and to any process aimed at putting Sudan on the political path to a permanent settlement and achieving national consensus to form a civilian-led government.”

In July, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed in a phone call with Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan “ways to support Sudan in overcoming the crisis it is facing,” reiterating the UAE’s commitment to supporting all solutions and initiatives aimed at de-escalating and ending the crisis in Sudan.

According to a press release from the Sudanese Sovereign Council, President Erdogan promised al-Burhan that Turkey would continue its humanitarian aid to Sudan, resume Turkish Airlines flights soon, and strengthen diplomatic relations between the two countries, including cooperation in agriculture and mining.

The Sovereign Council also mentioned that al-Burhan praised Turkey’s “supportive positions towards Sudan,” its efforts for peace and stability in the region, and its role in addressing many regional and international issues, including the Syrian file. He welcomed any Turkish role in stopping the war “caused by the rebellious RSF militia.” Al-Burhan also called for boosting Turkish investments in various fields, expressing confidence in the positions of President Erdogan and his government in support of the Sudanese people and their choices.

Observers believe that the phone call between Erdogan and al-Burhan at this time comes amid new developments and arrangements in the region, including Sudan, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

Since mid-April 2023, Sudan’s army, led by al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hamidti), have been engaged in a war that has resulted in more than 20,000 deaths and over 14 million displaced people and refugees, according to estimates from the United Nations and local authorities.