Sudan's army chief has expressed support for Turkiye's initiative to mediate in the ongoing 20-month conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed the idea during a phone call with Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in early December, stating Turkiye could contribute to establishing "peace and stability" in Sudan.

At a Saturday meeting in Port Sudan, Burhan asked Turkiye's Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran to "deliver the Sudanese leadership's welcoming of the initiative" to Erdogan, Youssef said in a briefing after the meeting.

“Sudan needs brothers and friends like Turkiye,” Youssef said, adding that the proposal could be a pathway to achieving peace in the country.

In further detail, Erdogan emphasized during his call that Turkiye could help mediate disputes between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while preventing Sudan from becoming "an area of external intervention," according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

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Sudan's army-backed government has frequently accused the UAE of backing the RSF, allegations echoed by some analysts but denied by the UAE.

Last month, Sudan said that the RSF launched UAE-made drones from Chad. Meanwhile, US lawmakers cited White House statements indicating the UAE had assured Washington it would not provide arms to paramilitaries in Sudan.

Following his meeting with Burhan, Turkiye's Duran highlighted that achieving peace requires "concerted efforts" and reiterated Turkiye’s readiness to mobilize regional actors to address the challenges of ending the conflict.

The UAE, in a statement last week, welcomed Turkiye’s diplomatic efforts and expressed willingness to cooperate.

“The UAE is fully prepared to cooperate and coordinate with Turkish efforts and all diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict in Sudan and find a comprehensive solution to the crisis,” the UAE’s foreign ministry said.

It is worth noting that the conflict between Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has caused widespread devastation, killing tens of thousands, displacing 12 million people, and pushing Sudan to the brink of famine. Analysts have cautioned that external involvement risks prolonging the suffering.

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