Transitional Sovereignty Council Chair Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's visit to Ankara on December 25 capped a series of intense diplomatic efforts this month, following stops in Riyadh and Cairo. The talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan focused on bolstering military and humanitarian cooperation, even as civilians in Sudan face shortages from a ban on informal trade routes. Meanwhile, Rapid Support Forces attacks in North Darfur have killed hundreds of civilians and displaced thousands.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's diplomatic visit to Ankara began on Thursday, December 25, at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, marking the final step in a series of regional engagements. It followed a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman in Riyadh on December 15, and another with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on December 18. A Sudanese diplomatic source noted that these visits centered on security concerns, with Riyadh offering political legitimacy, Cairo providing security depth, and Ankara enabling maneuvering beyond Arab frameworks.
The Burhan-Erdogan talks resulted in expanded military cooperation, especially in defense manufacturing, alongside increased humanitarian aid. The Turkish president stated that ties between the countries advanced in trade, agriculture, defense, and mining, emphasizing the aim of a ceasefire in Sudan. A former Sudanese Foreign Ministry official described the outcome as an "open-ended framework" potentially including logistical support and security training.
Domestically, authorities imposed a ban since November on moving goods, including food and fuel, from Northern State to Kordofan and Darfur via informal routes, to block supplies to the Rapid Support Forces. This caused prices to rise by 70 percent and severe shortages in remote markets, risking higher malnutrition and further displacement. A trader in Obeid said the decision "made no distinction between military use and civilian needs."
In North Darfur, Rapid Support Forces attacks killed over 200 civilians in areas like Umbro, Sarba, and Abu Qumra, described as ethnically motivated against the Zaghawa tribe, displacing more than 7,000 people. In North Kordofan, clashes erupted around Obeid, with conflicting claims over control of strategic sites like Dakong. A medical source confirmed the assaults targeted civilians in their homes as they fled.
