The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications has organised a panel titled “The Ongoing Conflict in the Heart of Africa: The Quest for Peace in Sudan”.
In his opening remarks at the panel, the Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, stated that our era is intertwined with chaotic elements of various scales, adding that the suffering experienced in different parts of the world each day calls everyone to a universal responsibility that unites us in a shared conscience.
Emphasising the need to uphold humanitarian responsibility amid global conflicts, Head of Communications Duran stated that the panel would focus on how to address the crisis in Sudan, which has become a deep wound for the international community and urgently calls for a solution.
Referring to Türkiye’s Africa policy, Head of Communications Duran noted that Türkiye’s engagement with Sudan is rooted not only in bonds of brotherhood and shared history but is also closely aligned with Türkiye’s broader Africa policy.
"Türkiye-Africa relations have gained considerable momentum over the past two decades."
Head of Communications Duran underlined that Türkiye–Africa relations have gained considerable momentum over the past two decades, stating that under the policy referred to as “The African Initiative and Africa Partnership Policy”, Türkiye has been working to enhance its relations and cooperation with the countries of the continent.
Head of Communications Duran recalled that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had made more than 50 visits to 31 African countries, including his time as prime minister, and noted that Türkiye had 44 embassies on the African continent and aimed to increase this number to 50.
Noting that 38 African countries have embassies in Türkiye and that these strong ties also require looking at the foundations of Türkiye’s approach to Africa, Head of Communications Duran continued as follows:
"Our strategy is to foster a more prosperous, developed, and autonomous continent, grounded in the principle of African solutions to African problems. In this context, humanitarian aid naturally comes to mind first. However, Türkiye's support is not limited to this. TİKA has 22 offices on the continent. We also know that nearly 7,000 projects were carried out by TİKA between 1992 and 2023. We can state that between 2008 and 2022, our assistance to Africa exceeded 2.5 billion US dollars. I can further note that more than 15,000 African students have benefited from the educational opportunities offered by Türkiye. Currently, over 65,000 African students are pursuing higher education in Türkiye. We know that the Turkish Maarif Foundation provides education to approximately 25,000 students through its schools in 27 African countries. Turkish Airlines operates flights to 64 destinations in 42 African countries. At the core of all these efforts is the principle of mutual cooperation and win-win. Our trade volume continues to grow each day and reached 36.6 billion dollars by the end of 2024. We are striving to increase this to 50 billion dollars."
"Türkiye is sharing this technology with sister countries"
Head of Communications Duran stated that Türkiye’s Africa policy rests on four core principles, noting that the first is to contribute to the economic development and capacity-building of African countries.
Head of Communications Duran noted that their efforts are fundamentally aimed at supporting economic development and capacity-building, adding, “Another key principle is to support the security and stability of African countries. This, too, is being achieved through the defence industry collaboration we have developed. As is well known, while many countries take a jealous stance toward sharing defence industry products with others, Türkiye has acted with remarkable openness, sharing these technologies with brotherly nations and extending them to support Africa’s fight against terrorism.
Stating that they have closely witnessed how effective this has been in supporting counter-terrorism efforts in certain countries across the continent, Head of Communications Duran continued:
As the third principle, Türkiye assumes a facilitative and mediating role—based on the principle of African solutions to African problems, on the consent of the parties, and firmly grounded in the trust placed in Türkiye. The fourth principle is that Türkiye not only maintains these collaborations on a bilateral level but also cooperates with regional African organisations. Within the framework of these four principles, I can say that Türkiye has brought a different policy to a level that will fundamentally reshape the approach to Africa, setting an example for other countries in Africa. I would like to add a fifth element here, and that is President Erdoğan's leadership."
Head of Communications Duran recalled that during his tenure as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, he paid visits to various African countries, noting that he personally witnessed the trust placed in President Erdoğan across the continent during these visits.
"The largest displacement crisis in the world"
Head of Communications Duran stated that, as a result of these efforts, Türkiye has become a country that contributes to the resolution of conflicts in Africa, supports development, and plays a role in ensuring security.
Remarking that the situation in Sudan turned into a major humanitarian tragedy, Head of Communications Duran said, "The internal conflicts that began in 2023 have reached a point where an immediate solution is required. The world may not be paying significant attention to the events unfolding in Sudan, yet a profound crisis is unfolding, resulting in numerous people requiring assistance and being displaced. The conflict that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left an estimated 31 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Nearly nine to ten million individuals have been displaced internally, while a further three million Sudanese have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. This can be regarded as the largest displacement crisis in the world.”
Emphasising how the lives of millions of Sudanese have been profoundly disrupted, Head of Communications Duran remarked:
“From where I stand, a country with Sudan’s deep-rooted cultural heritage and strategic continental importance should never be subjected to such unjustified hardship. In this respect, Sudan needs to emerge from the current crisis, the war must end, and peace should be restored in a manner consistent with the will of the Sudanese people. Our objective within the framework of this panel is to reintroduce Sudan to the international agenda and, first in Türkiye and then globally, communicate to the public the urgent need for action regarding the situation. For the conflicts instigated by the Rapid Support Forces, as conveyed in the reports coming from the country, reflect a blood-curdling level of brutality. Urgent action is needed in Sudan, where massacres, rapes, and attacks are occurring along with disease outbreaks.
Conveying that the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that the cholera outbreak in Sudan has spread to 13 states with further risk of spreading to refugee camps in Chad, Head of Communications Duran pointed out that the situation in Sudan does not only concern the country itself, but neighbouring countries are also under various risks.
"It is obvious that without stability in Sudan, security in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa cannot be ensured."
Head of Communications Duran voiced the following opinions:
"All these developments indicate that the destructive nature of Sudan's internal conflict, with its grave economic and humanitarian toll, must come to an end. With its Red Sea coastline, Sudan’s instability is regarded as a serious threat to international navigation security in this vital corridor for international maritime trade. From this standpoint, it is obvious that without stability in Sudan, security in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa cannot be ensured.” From this perspective, we can see that a struggle is taking place here not only for the Arab world but also for Western countries and other global actors, and that this struggle has reached a point where it harms the people of Sudan. The countries involved in this issue need to sit down and take on a role that will bring stability and peace to resolving the matter. They must work towards ending the conflict, not escalating it."
Pointing out that terrorist organisations in the Sahel Region see the area as fertile ground for themselves due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, Head of Communications Duran emphasised that this is not a symbolic threat but a serious risk.
Highlighting that what has happened in Sudan, particularly over the last two years, has once again demonstrated the international system’s shortcomings in resolving conflicts and crises, Head of Communications Duran said, ‘As perhaps a reflection of the problems faced by different regions, many African countries are still experiencing conflicts, and Sudan is right at the heart of them. Our country, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is raising its voice on the issue of Sudan. As you can see, no other leader raises this issue more than our President. This is, of course, closely related to the role our President takes on in global crises and his efforts to contribute to resolving these crises.’ From an African perspective, our President’s involvement in the issue between Ethiopia and Somalia, which had the potential to escalate into conflict, by offering mediation and achieving a resolution through an agreement, stands as one of the examples of his leadership in mediation.''
"The humanitarian disaster in Sudan has reached an unbearable scale"
Head of Communications Duran stated that they are aware of the complexity of the situation in Sudan, saying, ''Finding a solution is not that easy. However, we believe that what is needed now is the emergence of a determined will—one that brings together the countries involved in the issue, as well as those able to contribute, to work collectively toward achieving peace in Sudan. From this standpoint, Türkiye is involved in these processes and is exerting all possible efforts within its power. It is essential to communicate more effectively with the international community that the humanitarian disaster in Sudan has now reached an unbearable scale.''
Head of Communications Duran noted that while the Russia-Ukraine War and the situation in Gaza are major crises commanding global attention, a humanitarian drama that is by no means silent is also unfolding in Sudan, where considerable efforts are still required.
Noting that Türkiye is engaged in contacts with all counterparts, especially the Sovereignty Council, for the purpose of establishing lasting peace in Sudan and continues to contribute to international peace efforts, Head of Communications Duran highlighted that President Erdoğan met with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the President of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum held in April, emphasising the importance of preserving Sudan's territorial integrity and sovereignty for Türkiye.
Head of Communications Duran expressed that Türkiye's diplomatic presence in Sudan and other efforts towards Sudan's unity and solidarity are a reflection of the will to stand by the Sudanese people and thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and the embassy staff in the country.
Pointing out that there is much to be done regarding aid to Sudan, Head of Communications Duran noted that Türkiye is among the countries providing the largest amount of aid to Sudan.
"We will continue our activities to make the outcry of the Sudanese people heard and to support the efforts for peace"
Noting that a new ship has recently been dispatched to Sudan, Head of Communications Duran stated that these aids are not sufficient and will continue.
Head of Communications Duran emphasised the need to consolidate efforts to achieve peace in Sudan and stated:
"From Türkiye’s perspective, only through speaking out can the weapons be silenced, the people's relief be achieved, and migrants return to their homes. Regarding Sudan, I should add one final point. Certainly, conflicts are also portrayed in the media. The issue of disinformation has become a very critical topic. While following the war in Sudan, we have observed how disinformation, propaganda, and manipulation have led to harmful consequences. The Rapid Support Forces, in particular, conducted an information war to legitimise their own narrative. They did so through narratives that aligned with the interests of certain non-regional actors. This demonstrates how cautiously we, as the media, must approach this issue. Following this process is fundamentally about obtaining reliable information and communicating accurate facts to the public. I would like to note that the Turkish media has shown a sound and responsible stance on this issue. I thank our media, particularly TRT, Anadolu Agency, and other Turkish media outlets, for their efforts. As the Directorate of Communications, we will continue our activities to make the outcry of the Sudanese people heard and to support the efforts for peace."
Head of Communications Duran concluded his speech by recalling President Erdoğan's words, "The people of Sudan should be assured, Türkiye is by their side."
The Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to Ankara, Nadir Yousif Eltayeb, along with Deputy Heads of Communications Ferhat Pirinççi and İlhami Giray Şahin, TRT Director General Mehmet Zahid Sobacı, Anadolu Agency (AA) Deputy Director General and Editor-in-Chief Yusuf Özhan, AA Academy and News Coordinator Yahya Bostan, as well as TRT Deputy Directors General Mücahid Eker and Serhat Eroğlu, also participated in the panel.
Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran's statement regarding the panel “The Ongoing Conflict in the Heart of Africa: The Quest for Peace in Sudan”
In a post on his NSosyal account, the Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, remarked on the panel “The Ongoing Conflict in the Heart of Africa: The Quest for Peace in Sudan”.
In his statement, Head of Communications Duran said:
"In the panel 'Ongoing Conflict in the Heart of Africa: The Quest for Peace in Sudan' that we organised at our Directorate, we discussed the humanitarian disaster in Sudan, the peace efforts, and Türkiye’s strong presence on the ground.
Since April 2023, the humanitarian situation in Sudan has been extremely severe; nearly 31 million people are in need of humanitarian aid, approximately 9 million people have been displaced within the country, and 3 million Sudanese have been forced to take refuge in neighbouring countries. This crisis—which has caused devastation in every sphere, from education to healthcare and from security to infrastructure—is not only Sudan’s plight but a profound tragedy that speaks to the collective conscience of humanity.
The crisis in Sudan has once again revealed the shortcomings of the international system in preventing or resolving conflicts. Regrettably, humanitarian crises in Africa often lack sufficient recognition in the global priority ranking. The international community must urgently recognise the catastrophe unfolding in Sudan and take action.
Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye resolutely supports Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; works tirelessly to ensure that the conflicts are resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means; and continues to stand by the people of Sudan through humanitarian assistance and robust engagement on the ground.
I hope that our panel will help raise global awareness of the humanitarian tragedy in Sudan and contribute to the peace efforts. I would like to express my gratitude to our esteemed participants and to all those who have contributed to this event.”
