'Turkey supports Sudan’s transition to civilian rule'

ANKARA

Turkey on Thursday reiterated its support for Sudan’s transition to civilian rule.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu underlined that he will travel to Sudan this Saturday to attend the signing ceremony of a power-sharing deal between rival sides in the country.

In addition to Turkey, leaders from several African and Middle Eastern countries are expected to attend the ceremony.

“We hope that all these processes will bring peace and tranquility to the brotherly Sudanese people,” Cavusoglu told reporters at a joint press conference with Kalla Ankourao, Niger’s foreign minister, currently on a visit to Turkey.

Highlighting that Turkey welcomed the constitutional declaration paving the way for transition to civilian rule in Sudan, Cavusoglu said: “Turkey will continue to give its utmost support during this process.”

On Aug. 4, Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition alliance Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) initialed the declaration towards a transition to civilian rule following the ouster of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir.

Sudan has been in turmoil since April 11, when the military establishment announced al-Bashir’s removal after months of popular protests against his 30-year rule.

Stressing that Niger has suffered a great deal due to terrorist attacks, Cavusoglu reiterated Turkey’s determination to fight all kinds of terrorism.

Cavusoglu also thanked Niger for handing over all schools linked to the terror group FETO to Turkey's Maarif Foundation, adding that this move is important for Niger and Turkey’s efforts against terrorism.

“The Turkish nation will never forget this solidarity,” Cavusoglu said.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen are responsible for the July 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, which martyred 251 people and left thousands injured.

In addition to infiltrating Turkey, the group has a network of affiliated schools worldwide that serve as a revenue stream. Turkey’s Maarif Foundation assumes responsible leadership for such schools.

Cavusoglu also announced that Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit his country.

Cavusoglu added that Erdogan plans to soon pay a visit to Africa, part of Turkey's outreach to the continent.

Ankourau, for his part, stressed that the meetings between two countries will be instrumental in the development of the Islamic ummah (community) and will pave the way for greater prosperity and visibility.

Expressing his hope to expand diplomatic relations between the two countries, Ankourau highlighted that Niger’s first official visit was to Turkey after its membership on the UN Security Council.

This is Niger’s first visit to Turkey at the foreign minister level.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz