Is Sudan entering a new era of regional diplomacy?
The June 2 visit of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to Ankara may prove to be one of the most consequential diplomatic moves undertaken by Khartoum since the outbreak of the civil war in 2023.
Far from a routine state visit, the meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underscored Sudan’s evolving foreign policy strategy and highlighted the growing importance of Türkiye as a strategic partner in the country’s wartime and post-war calculations, News.az reports.
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Received with full head-of-state honors at the Presidential Complex, al-Burhan’s visit carried strong symbolic and political significance. It reflected Sudan’s efforts to translate recent battlefield gains into diplomatic momentum while signaling that the government in Khartoum remains an active and internationally engaged actor despite years of conflict.
The renewed partnership between Sudan and Türkiye represents a notable reversal from the policies pursued after Sudan’s 2019 revolution. The civilian-led transitional administration had largely distanced itself from Ankara as it sought closer relations with Western powers, Israel and key regional partners. Many agreements established during the previous era were frozen, leading to a significant decline in bilateral cooperation.
The outbreak of civil war fundamentally altered those calculations. Facing mounting security challenges and an increasingly complex regional environment, Sudan’s leadership has adopted a more pragmatic foreign policy approach. In this context, Türkiye has re-emerged as one of Khartoum’s most important strategic partners.
Recent visits by Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris to Ankara, followed by al-Burhan’s own trip, suggest that relations have moved beyond crisis management and are once again developing into a broader long-term partnership focused on security, reconstruction and economic cooperation.
The diplomatic outreach comes at a time when the Sudanese Armed Forces have improved their position on the battlefield. The army has regained control of key areas in Khartoum and Gezira State while restoring administrative structures in territories recovered from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Supporters of the government argue that these developments have strengthened Khartoum’s international standing and provided the leadership with greater confidence to pursue new diplomatic initiatives.
At the same time, the RSF has struggled to secure decisive strategic gains despite receiving significant external support. Analysts note that Sudan’s conflict increasingly resembles a broader regional proxy confrontation, involving multiple foreign actors and non-state groups.
As military dynamics continue to shift, Khartoum appears increasingly focused on ensuring that battlefield successes are accompanied by diplomatic achievements capable of shaping the country’s future political landscape.
One of the key drivers behind the Ankara-Khartoum rapprochement is Türkiye’s expanding role across Africa. In recent years, Ankara has moved beyond traditional economic engagement and positioned itself as a major provider of security assistance, military training and defense cooperation.
The so-called "Somali model," which combines military support, institutional capacity building and defense industry cooperation, has become one of Türkiye’s most prominent foreign policy tools on the continent. Several African countries facing security challenges have expressed interest in adopting similar frameworks.
For Sudan, which will eventually face the enormous task of rebuilding state institutions and restructuring its security sector after years of war, cooperation with Türkiye offers an attractive option. Defense collaboration, military training and technology transfers could become important components of the bilateral relationship in the coming years.
Al-Burhan’s visit delivered several important messages to different audiences. Domestically, it was intended to reassure Sudanese citizens that the state remains functional and capable of conducting diplomacy at the highest levels despite the ongoing conflict. The high-profile reception in Ankara reinforced the government’s claim to legitimacy and international recognition.
Regionally, the visit signaled Sudan’s determination to diversify its foreign partnerships and avoid dependence on any single bloc or alliance. Strengthening ties with Türkiye forms part of a broader effort to expand diplomatic options and reduce regional isolation.
Most importantly, the trip highlighted Khartoum’s vision for the post-war period. Sudan’s reconstruction will require substantial investment, infrastructure development and institutional support. Türkiye, with its growing economic and diplomatic presence across Africa, is well positioned to play a significant role in that process.
The significance of al-Burhan’s Ankara visit extends beyond immediate military and political considerations. It reflects Sudan’s attempt to reposition itself internationally, not merely as a country consumed by conflict but as a state preparing for reconstruction and long-term partnerships.
Whether this strategy succeeds will depend on developments on the battlefield and the broader regional environment. Nevertheless, the diplomatic momentum generated by recent high-level contacts between Sudan and Türkiye suggests that both sides view the relationship as a strategic investment rather than a temporary wartime necessity.
As Sudan navigates one of the most challenging periods in its modern history, the strengthening partnership with Ankara may emerge as one of the defining pillars of its future regional and international engagement.
By Faig Mahmudov
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