Turkey calls for national reconciliation and peace in Sudan over coup against Bashir

ANKARA

A crisis in Sudan after a military coup against Omar al-Bashir should be overcome peacefully through “national conciliation,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on April 11, adding that Turkey supports the continuation of “deep-rooted” relations with the African country.

“It is my most important wish that Sudan will survive this process on the basis of national reconciliation and peace,” Erdoğan said at a joint press conference with Burkina Faso’s President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

Erdoğan repeated his rejection against coups, but he refrained from voicing support for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir.

Recalling that Turkey has deep-rooted historical relations with Sudan, Erdoğan said the Turkish government wants the “continuation of these deep-rooted relations.”

“It is my wish that Sudan will succeed this issue within a fraternity network and enter the normal democratic process,” the president said.

Noting that he was aware of Sudan’s recent economic problems, Erdoğan expressed his will that the African country will overcome these economic issues as well.

It was not possible at the moment to clarify the whereabouts of Bashir, he said. “But I wish them to survive this period in peace.”

“Because these countries have suffered from such blows, and every blow is a very serious blood loss. I don’t really want our friendly brother Sudan to be subjected to this,” the president stated.

Kabore, for his part, said: “We cannot support coup attempts” and noted that coups would stand on trial in democratic systems.  Kabore said they “condemn” the military coup against Bashir.

Turkey urges Sudan to manage transition ‘peacefully’

Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has called on Sudan to manage the transition process "peacefully" after the removal of Omar al-Bashir from the presidency.

"We hope that this transition process will be conducted peacefully, with a view to meeting the expectations of the Sudanese people and within the framework of constitutional democracy and national consensus," the Foreign Ministry said in a press release on April 12.

"The basic desire of the people of Sudan is the establishment of peace and stability in the country and the adoption of measures which would enable overcoming the economic difficulties," it said, adding that Sudan's security and stability are crucial for the stability of the region.

The ministry added that Turkey will continue to stand by the Sudanese people to ensure the country's stability, welfare, and security.

On April 12, the Sudanese military announced the removal of President Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled Sudan since 1989, and the imposition of a two-year "transitional phase".

Defense Minister Awad ibn Auf also announced in a televised statement the imposition of a one-month curfew along with a three-month nationwide state of emergency.

He also announced the suspension of Sudan's 2005 Constitution and the dissolution of the Sudanese presidency, parliament, and council of ministers.

A military council, he said, would be drawn up to run the country's affairs during the post-Bashir interim phase.

Sudanese opposition parties and professional associations voiced their "total rejection" of what they called a "military coup."

Al-Bashir came to power on the back of a 1989 military coup against the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi.