Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan held separate meetings with the leaders of Turkey, Pakistan and Libya on Thursday, seeking to strengthen diplomatic, economic and security cooperation as Sudan’s war continues.
Burhan, who heads the Sovereignty Council and Sudan’s SAF government, met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Libya’s Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah on the sidelines of the COP31 United Nations climate summit in Antalya.
The discussions addressed Sudan’s security and political situation, bilateral relations and regional developments, according to a statement issued by the Sovereignty Council’s media office.
During his meeting with Erdogan, Burhan discussed expanding cooperation between Sudan and Turkey, including trade, investment and economic development.
Erdogan reaffirmed Ankara’s support for Sudan’s territorial integrity, independence and stability, while expressing backing for diplomatic efforts to end the country’s conflict.
The Turkish presidency said the discussions also covered potential cooperation in defence industries, agriculture and investment, reflecting Ankara’s interest in maintaining close relations with Sudan.
The two sides reviewed existing bilateral mechanisms and efforts to strengthen cooperation through joint committees responsible for economic, commercial and cultural relations.
In separate talks with Sharif, Burhan discussed strengthening relations with Pakistan and expanding cooperation in sectors of mutual interest.
Sharif stressed Sudan’s strategic importance to regional security, saying continued instability in the country could have wider consequences for neighbouring states.
Burhan also met Dbeibah to discuss relations between Sudan and Libya, with particular attention to border security, regional developments and diplomatic coordination.
The meeting comes as instability along Sudan’s western borders remains a concern amid the conflict that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
The Antalya meetings form part of a wider diplomatic effort by Burhan’s SAF government to maintain international partnerships and secure political and economic support while the war continues to devastate Sudan.
The conflict has displaced millions, damaged critical infrastructure and left large parts of the population dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Despite renewed international calls for a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, efforts to reach a lasting political settlement have yet to produce an agreement between the warring sides.
