Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Sudanese army, visited Ankara, the capital of Turkey, on Wednesday, where he held discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. General al-Burhan has been on a series of foreign visits in recent days, including trips to Egypt, South Sudan, Qatar, and Eritrea. The army commander is seeking support in the conflict he is embroiled in with General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as “Hemedti,” the leader of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in his capacity as the President of the Sovereignty Council, the body overseeing the transition since the 2018 revolution, traveled to Turkey. This is how he was officially presented in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s agenda.
According to a statement from the Sovereignty Council, the two leaders discussed “bilateral relations and common interests.” General al-Burhan, however, brought with him close military advisors, including the Director of Intelligence and the Director-General of the Defense Industries System.
Turkey has been a long-standing ally of Sudan, with strong economic and military ties. It has become one of the major arms suppliers to the African continent today. According to a study by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs published last year, Turkey increased its arms exports to the continent fivefold in just one year.
The meeting in Ankara between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan was held discreetly, without any press announcements, conferences, or official reports.