ANKARA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has urged for peace and stability in Sudan after a military coup against former President Omar al-Bashir, and wished a soon recovery of the country.
The situation should be overcome peacefully through "national conciliation," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, 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," Erdogan told reporters at a joint press conference with visiting president of Burkina Faso.
Erdogan repeated his rejection against coups, but he refrained from voicing support for Sudan's deposed president and long-time survivor who travelled several times to Turkey in the past.
Bashir's visits caused controversy as he was the subject of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court over allegations of war crimes and genocide against civilians in the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s, significantly limiting his international visits.
In late 2017, Erdogan became the first Turkish head of state to visit Sudan in over 60 years.
Engagement with Sudan in particular, and Africa in general, has been a consistent feature of Erdogan's administration, as Turkey seeks to become a leading player on the continent.
During his visit to Khartoum, the two countries signed agreements pertaining to defense cooperation, mining, agriculture, forest, science, education and tourism.
The highlight of the visit was a deal to temporarily lease the Red Sea island of Suakin to Turkey. The Suakin island, an ancient pilgrimage site, lies at the crossroads between Saudi Arabia and Port Sudan, Sudan's largest port.
Turkey is also interested in constructing the country's largest airport, and also plans to establish military training centers in the country.
"Our aim is mainly commercial and humanitarian. We are making trade with African countries, including Sudan, and trying to rebuild in some cases the infrastructure and service sectors," said a Turkish government official to Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
"We hope that we can still work with the new administration, because our efforts are for the benefit of the Sudanese people who really need our expertise and resources for many projects," added the official who declined to comment if the transitional government in Sudan would reverse policies with Ankara.
Nevertheless, it is also important to underline Turkey's growing attention for Sudan as part of the growing geopolitical competition in the Horn of Africa.
Sudan often symbolizes a transitional point to Africa from the Arab world, and therefore has a strategic importance for Turkey which wants to increase its influence in the Islamic world, said experts.
"Bashir came to power 30 years ago. His actions were not foreseeable and have dangerous consequences," said Burak Bilgehan Ozpek, assistant professor on international relations from the Ankara-based TOBB university.
The expert said that Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had established an "ideological affinity" with the former Sudanese ruler but it "cannot preserve its interests and investments in Sudan by supporting Bashir."
"The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a good-worded statement in which it says that relations should be maintained on the basis of state-to-state," ruling out ties between personalities, in this case between Erdogan and Bashir, added Ozpek.
The expert emphasized on the need to see how power transition will unfold in Sudan and if this country will abide by its cooperation agreements with Ankara.
Erdogan has made a concerted effort to build relations in Africa in order to broaden Turkish overseas investment and collaboration prospects.
Alongside Turkish Airways now flying to 55 destinations in 33 African countries, development contracts for Turkish firms have increased considerably as part of Turkey's ambitions to boost regional influence.
