Turkish Presence in Sudan: Military Support Increases Civilian Suffering and Destroys Infrastructure

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Since the outbreak of the crisis in Sudan, Turkey’s presence in the country has attracted significant attention, particularly due to its role in supporting the Sudanese army through the supply of drones and modern weaponry.

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This Turkish military support raises many questions about the true intentions behind this relationship and its impact on Sudanese civilians. While the Sudanese people face severe humanitarian crises, Turkey continues to provide military support to the Sudanese military regime. This has contributed to escalating violence and destruction, thereby increasing the suffering of civilians.

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Turkish Drones: A Tool for Civilian Destruction

A key aspect of Turkish support for the Sudanese army is the provision of drones such as Turkish Bayraktars. These drones are highly capable of identifying targets with great precision, making them effective tools for offensive operations against military targets. However, they are also used to target civilians. Numerous documented attacks have struck civilians and civilian infrastructure using these drones, proving that the Sudanese army deliberately employs them against civilian areas.

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Turkey’s Support for Islamic Movements in Sudan

Turkish support extends beyond weaponry to include political and military backing for Sudanese Islamic movements, notably the Muslim Brotherhood led by Abdelhai Youssef and other political and military leaders. Turkey has not only hosted the leaders of this movement but also provided them with military support by arming the Sudanese army with Turkish drones. This has enabled the regime to suppress popular protests and conduct military operations against civilians.

Turkish Drones at Port Sudan Airport: Direct Targeting of Civilians

The presence of Turkish drones has been documented at Port Sudan Airport, which has become a launch point for military attacks on civilian areas. The use of these drones has not been limited to military installations but has extended to residential neighborhoods, leading to the death of many innocents and the destruction of homes. This clearly illustrates the Sudanese army‘s deliberate targeting of civilians under the guise of Turkish support.

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UN Call to Ban Airspace

In light of these violations, many human rights organizations and the United Nations are calling for Sudanese airspace to be closed to Turkish drones. The goal is to end the series of attacks targeting civilians and reduce the destruction of vital infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. It is imperative to halt the use of these drones in military operations that harm the Sudanese people and exacerbate their suffering.

Redirecting Sudanese Public Funds to Purchase Weapons Instead of Meeting Basic Needs

While the Sudanese people endure a suffocating humanitarian crisis, characterized by high levels of famine and displacement, the Sudanese army continues to divert available funds to purchase weapons, particularly drones, instead of allocating them to essential food supplies and alleviating citizens’ suffering. This policy exacerbates the economic and humanitarian crises in the country, making the situation more complex and hindering the provision of basic needs to citizens facing poverty and forced displacement.

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The Turkish presence in Sudan plays a negative role, deepening humanitarian crises and increasing the suffering of civilians. Turkey’s support for the Sudanese army through the supply of weapons, especially Turkish drones, along with its political and military backing for Islamist movements, contributes to escalating the conflict, destroying infrastructure, and killing innocent people. Therefore, the international community must act urgently to impose a ban on the use of these weapons in Sudan and work to end military interventions that devastate civilian lives.

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