Turkey 'ready to host Sudan peace talks', Erdogan tells army chief Burhan

Turkey could host peace talks between Sudan’s warring parties, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Tuesday.

"President Erdogan voiced his sadness and concerns over the increase in casualties and injuries in the infighting in Sudan," read an official Turkish statement about Erdogan's call with Sudan's de facto leader.

Turkey "is ready to host the talks if a decision is taken to start comprehensive negotiations," the statement read.

The two also discussed the evacuation of Turkish citizens in Sudan and coordination with the UN to ensure aid reaches those in need.

Battles between the Burhan-led army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces headed by his deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commonly known as Hemedti, have seen hundreds of people killed and thousands more wounded since mid-April. Some 100,000 refugees have fled abroad in that time.

Envoys from Sudan’s warring parties have been in Saudi Arabia since Saturday for talks that international mediators hope will bring an end to the conflict.

Success in mediating peace for Sudan could prove to be a last-minute boost for Erdogan as he looks to fight off challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu in next week’s presidential elections. 

Erdogan had offered to mediate in Sudan’s conflict a few days after it had begun.