Sudan and Türkiye…a partnership that does not accept possibilities – The face of truth – ✍️ Ibrahim Shaqlawi
The Sudanese-Turkish relationship is considered one of the most promising regional partnerships, still hostage to political calculations rather than a strategic vision resulting from the Sudanese reality and the demands of the moment.
Although Turkey has at no time hidden its desire to strengthen its presence in Sudan, whether through its support for the Sudanese government, or by increasing its investments in the fields of energy, agriculture and education, the Sudanese side has not demonstrated sufficient seriousness in the management of this issue commensurate with its scale and dimensions.
The visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Khartoum in December 2017 marked an important milestone in the history of relations between the two countries, as it was the first visit by a Turkish president since Sudan’s independence. He was also responsible for practical signals, represented by the accompaniment of an economic delegation composed of 200 businessmen and the signing of 12 cooperation agreements in various fields, as well as by a clear interest in reviving historical ties through his visit to the city of Suakin. However, the absence of a clear implementation mechanism and the lack of coherent political will from the Sudanese side have caused many of these agreements to regress at the level of intentions.
Despite the challenges, Turkey maintained its support for Sudan, and its position was clear after the outbreak of war between the army and the Rapid Support Militia, which attempted, with regional support, to seize power in April 2023. Ankara declared a position of support for the Sudanese state and its institutions, and this was later reflected in repeated visits by President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to Ankara and agreements to supply the Turkish Bayraktar. plane, which helped to reverse the field equation. For the benefit of the Sudanese army in decisive battles to reconquer the capital, Khartoum, and the states of Al-Jazeera and Sennar.
The Turkish presence was not limited to the security dimension, but rather extended to the concrete contribution to the reconstruction efforts, as Turkish companies announced the resumption of their activities in stalled development projects, notably the rehabilitation of the “Aslan” gypsum factory, which resumed production in the Sudanese capital, as a symbol of the firmness of Turkish investments and their confidence in the future of the Sudan.
The recent period has also witnessed a notable growth in Turkish interest in the higher education sector, with the Turkish ambassador recently expressing his country’s willingness to support war-affected Sudanese universities and expand academic and student exchanges, reflecting Turkey’s awareness of the importance of soft power in consolidating its long-term relations with the Sudanese state.
In a more revealing context of Turkey’s seriousness in its concrete contribution to infrastructure projects, the Klanib power plant project in the Red Sea State is currently under construction, with a production capacity of up to 350 megawatts, through a specialized Turkish company. It is a strategic project that reflects the geopolitical awareness of the importance of the Red Sea as a shared vital area. This project places Turkey in the position of a true development partner and opens the possibility of replicating the experience in other Sudanese states that have needed to rehabilitate their energy infrastructure and are able to adapt to reconstruction plans.
Despite these efforts, the Sudanese government’s approach to this rapprochement remains unclear and it seems that certain decision-making circles in Khartoum have not yet realized the extent of the opportunities inherent in this relationship. This resulted in the slow implementation of many agreements and weak institutional coordination, which weakened the expected impact of this cooperation, even though Turkish investments exceeded two billion dollars and included 288 projects in various sectors.
Continuing this positive dynamic in bilateral relations requires filling the biggest gap on the Sudanese side, namely the absence of a central institutional body responsible for managing relations with Turkey. It therefore seems necessary to reorganize this file to ensure coordination between government institutions, the private sector and the Head of State. In this context, direct responsibility for this file could be entrusted to the Sudanese Defense Industries Authority, due to its experience and existing relations with the Turkish side, particularly in the areas of defense technology and industrial agreements linked to the rehabilitation of infrastructure.
Lieutenant General Yasser Al-Atta, a member of the Sovereignty Council, could also assume direct political supervision of the Sudanese-Turkish relations file as special envoy to the president, given his military and diplomatic background, and his ability to negotiate and coordinate at the highest levels. This could imitate the qualitative efforts deployed by engineer Ibrahim Jaber’s team, which deals with sensitive economic files and has made significant progress in development partnerships.
Sudan’s delay in investing its enormous resources, geostrategic location and political relationships with regional powers such as Turkey not only wastes enormous development opportunities, but may also make it pay a heavy price if it is forced to resort to other partners at an inappropriate time or in confusing regional contexts that do not serve its long-term interests. Time therefore allows no further delay or hesitation. The world does not wait, opportunities do not come again and true partners are not left waiting, especially if they enjoy the trust and respect of the Sudanese.
According to #Face_of_Truth, the importance of unified leadership lies in the management of this vital issue because it is an integral part of Sudan’s national rebirth strategy, and is not just a tool in the game of international balances. Turkey has the tools and experience to provide support in the areas of reconstruction and development. Despite ongoing challenges, Turkey has remained a steadfast strategic partner in supporting Sudan. To get the most out of this relationship, it must move from diplomatic courtesies to an institutional partnership based on strategic objectives, ensuring lasting political and economic stability, transcending the limits of circumstantial cooperation and temporary responses.
May you always be well.
Monday October 13, 2025 AD (email protected)
