Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for immediate and coordinated international action to address Sudan’s worsening humanitarian crisis, as fighting between rival military factions continues to devastate the country and displace millions.
Erdogan made the appeal during high-level talks in Ankara with Sudan’s Sovereign Council leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, as the conflict enters another critical phase with no political settlement in sight. The meeting focused on both the security situation and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions facing civilians across Sudan.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan has plunged into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. According to United Nations estimates, more than 10 million people have been displaced internally or forced to flee to neighbouring countries, while millions more face acute food insecurity amid collapsing health services and widespread infrastructure destruction.
Erdogan warned that the scale of suffering in Sudan now demands urgent global attention, stressing that prolonged inaction risks destabilising the wider region, including the Horn of Africa and parts of the Sahel. He called on international actors to intensify diplomatic pressure for an immediate ceasefire and to significantly expand humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in the fighting.
Turkey, Erdogan said, is prepared to play a more active role by supporting mediation efforts and increasing humanitarian aid, including food supplies, medical assistance and post-conflict reconstruction support when conditions allow. Ankara has in recent years positioned itself as a growing diplomatic actor in Africa, maintaining close ties with Sudan and other regional states.
General al-Burhan’s visit to Turkey comes as Sudan’s military leadership seeks greater international engagement amid mounting civilian casualties, widespread displacement and accusations of abuses by all sides. Despite repeated ceasefire initiatives led by regional and international mediators, fighting has continued in key areas including Khartoum, Darfur and parts of Kordofan.
Humanitarian agencies warn that several regions are now on the brink of famine, with aid deliveries frequently disrupted by insecurity and access restrictions. The UN has described Sudan’s crisis as one of the largest displacement emergencies globally, placing enormous strain on neighbouring countries hosting refugees.
Observers say the Ankara talks reflect growing concern among international partners that Sudan’s conflict is entering a dangerous phase where political fragmentation, economic collapse and mass displacement could become irreversible without swift and sustained intervention.
