The Workers Rights 
The war in Sudan is being increasingly influenced by external powers, as Turkey is becoming an important military, political and economic presence around the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Years of diplomatic and commercial approaches have turned into a relationship that has seen reported Turkish military exports, contact with the SAF leadership and other strategic interests in Sudan’s Red Sea region.
The main issue is whether Turkey continues to expand its role and involvement to help achieve a political resolution or whether the war is becoming harder to resolve and Turkey’s military partnership with the SAF is exacerbating the situation.
Turkish Military Support Is Changing Sudan’s Battlefield
The military ties between Turkey and Sudan are not new, but have also gained increased importance in the current conflict since the outbreak of fighting in April 2023. The investigation by the Washington Post, cited in the reference, states that Baykar, Turkey’s biggest military equipment manufacturer, sold military hardware valued at approximately $120 million to the Sudanese army. The buyer was a Sudanese government procurement agency already listed on U.S. sanctions.
One aspect of the Turkish drone that has received a specific focus is its role. The reference refers to a report in the New York Times, which states that Turkish drones were flying in an Egyptian airstrip in the Western Desert at East Oweinat. The defence ministry of Turkey ruled out any presence of the Turkish Armed Forces in Sudan, whereas a high-ranking Turkish official stated that it had been exported in accordance with international law.
The impact is more than just on the weapons systems. The utilization of drones and modern military equipment may enhance the capabilities of the force to conduct operations over long distances and with high precision. The development of air power brings new threats to civilians, particularly if the attacks are made in areas where people live or in industrial zones.
Ankara to Sudan’s Drone War
Sudan is a case of a developing drone warfare which may impact a war outside the country producing the drones. According to the reference provided, Sudanese drone attacks were made in neighbouring Chad for over 100 kilometres in August 2026. Chad claimed the SAF had been behind the strikes, including an attack on the outskirts of a fuel market which left 12 people dead and seven injured. The foreign ministry of Sudan has rejected responsibility.
The attacks are a reminder of the potential for Sudan’s air war to spread beyond its borders, raising concerns about security in the region. The United States has characterised such actions as part of a regional issue and has demanded a halt to outside military and financial assistance for the conflict.
Turkey isn’t going through this alone. The breadth of the reference is extended to include Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, with Saudi political and financial support and Pakistani defence exports identified as contributing to the SAF’s external support network, whilst Turkish military technologies are described as contributing to the SAF’s external support network. Details of the financial means of some of these arrangements remain unclear.
Turkey and the SAF: A Strategic Partnership
The ties between the Sudanese state institutions and the military authorities and Turkey have grown over the past few years. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan established a close relationship with the government of Omar al-Bashir, with the agreement to develop Suakin Island and restore the historic port of the same name in 2017. The relationships that Turkey had built with Sudanese institutions continued despite the project being stalled by Bashir’s removal in 2019.
During the current war, that relationship became more apparent. Erdoğan received SAF President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Turkey on 2 June, discussing matters on trade, agriculture, energy and defence. It was not announced that a new defence pact was to be formed, but rather, Ankara’s direct engagement with Sudan’s leadership was shown.
This access might be important in a future political process. Turkey has positioned itself as a nation that wishes to preserve the territorial unity and the bloodshed of Sudan and, at the same time, has a relationship with the leadership of SAF.
Red Sea Interests and the Cost of a Prolonged War
Cooperation in the field of military forces is not the only area of interest for Turkey in Sudan. The Red Sea coastline of Sudan provides another point of contact for Ankara in a sea lane of strategic importance that links the Middle East to the Horn of Africa and from there to the rest of the Red Sea region.
The stalled project of Suakin is an example of Turkey’s longer-term economic and security objectives in Sudan. In addition, Turkey has established defence, economic and energy ties in other parts of the Horn of Africa, such as Somalia.
But a long war poses a dilemma for Ankara. In the short term, it may further consolidate its ties with the SAF leadership, but in the longer term, instability could have an adverse impact on potential investment in Sudan, reconstruction and longer-term access to its economy and Red Sea infrastructure. A fractured Sudan may prove less of a strategic ally, too.
Its new role thus shows a larger dynamic in Sudan’s conflict, with assistance from outside parties both helping to reinforce forces on the ground and complicating the negotiating process. But the consequences for civilians may be severe, with advanced weaponry, cross-border strikes and competing foreign interests bringing the conflict beyond Sudan’s immediate front lines for civilians.
Know Your Rights and Stay Protected at Work
What Are Different Types Of Leave?
Explore casual, sick and paid leave rules.
How Do Global Parental Leave Laws Work?
Discover rights and policies worldwide.
What Counts As Protected Characteristics Singapore?
Check new anti-discrimination law details.
What Is Workplace Discrimination Exactly?
Explore causes and prevention methods.
Why Can’t Workers Adapt To Heatwaves?
Discover challenges faced by urban workers.
