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Türkiye’s ambassador to Sudan, Fatih Yildiz, said Ankara “stands with Sudan” and supports the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity, Sudan’s official news agency SUNA reported Sunday.
Yildiz made the remarks during a one-day cultural, social and diplomatic forum held in Port Sudan under the slogan “Sudan-Türkiye relations: Strategic ties.” The forum was organized by a nongovernmental organization, SUNA reported.
Yildiz said Sudan has managed, despite the conditions of war, to “thwart the schemes and conspiracies” that have targeted it. He added that Türkiye is “not only by Sudan’s side or behind it, but stands with it,” wishing the Sudanese people peace, resilience and strength.
Sudan has been engulfed in fighting since April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, amid disputes linked to the unification of the military institution. The conflict has driven a deep humanitarian crisis, including famine and mass displacement, with tens of thousands reported killed and about 13 million people displaced or forced to flee.
The Turkish envoy said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to support political and diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing Sudan. He also pointed to ongoing Turkish humanitarian assistance, saying aid ships arriving at Port Sudan will continue and “will not stop.”
Yildiz framed bilateral ties as extending beyond formal agreements, arguing the relationship between the two peoples is rooted in historical depth and enduring cultural links that cannot be reduced to “documents or words.”
Sudan’s ambassador to Türkiye, Nader Youssef, said the two countries face shared internal and external challenges that require coordination and mutual cooperation, SUNA reported.
Youssef said Ankara and Khartoum agree on preserving Sudan’s unity and preventing fragmentation, while also prioritizing the security of the Red Sea. He added that Türkiye views Sudan as a strategic gateway to Africa and the sub-Saharan region.
Youssef said bilateral trade declined to about $390 million in 2025 due to the war, down from roughly $680 million in 2022, despite earlier plans to lift trade beyond $1 billion.
He added that Türkiye announced support for Sudan from the early days of the conflict and was among the first countries to send humanitarian aid. Youssef said Türkiye has offered 63 scholarships to Sudanese students this year, and that around 5,300 Sudanese students are currently studying in Türkiye.
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