Recep Tayyip Erdogan it doesn’t stop anymore. He recently mediated the détente between Somalia and Ethiopia, is playing the role of kingmaker in the Syrian political reorganization and aims to carve out a leading role in the (perhaps imminent) Ukrainian negotiations. Well, in the face of all this, the sultan is now also ready to mediate to defuse tensions between the United Arab Emirates and Sudan. But let’s go in order.
Since 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a civil war between the local government and the RSF paramilitaries. In this framework, Friday, Erdogan had a telephone conversation with the Sudanese president Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Just a few days earlier, the latter had accused Abu Dhabi of having supported the RSF: an accusation that the Emirates had branded as “totally false”. It is therefore in light of everything that, during the interview with al-Burhanthe sultan has explicitly offered to encourage détente between his government and that of Abu Dhabi.
In short, the Turkish president further confirms his strategy: to present himself as a diplomatic mediator to strengthen his centrality from a geopolitical point of view. Offering himself as a peacemaker between the United Arab Emirates and Sudan, Erdogan it aims first and foremost to consolidate its influence on the African continent. As mentioned, the sultan has recently managed to foster a détente between Somalia and Ethiopia: a way in which he has increased his grip on the Horn of Africa.
Secondly, the goal of Erdogan it is also to promote a thaw between Turkey and those governments that historically distrust Ankara due to its support for the Muslim Brotherhood. One of these governments is precisely that of Abu Dhabi. Without forgetting that, in the last few months, Erdogan it also improved its relations with Egypt.
Third, the sultan is trying to stem Russian influence on various parts of the African continent: not only in the Horn of Africa but also – with Sudan – in the Sahel. It is clear that this diplomatic strategy cannot be separated from the Syrian crisis. Furthermore, let’s not forget that the insurgents who overthrew the regime of Bashar al Assad they were largely supported by Ankara itself: a move, the Turkish one, which inflicted a heavy blow not only on Tehran but also on Moscow.
Last but not least, a Erdogan interests Sudan to have greater projection towards the Red Sea. On the other hand, thanks to the increase in influence on Somalia, the sultan is also gaining momentum towards the Gulf of Aden. In short, the Turkish president is moving shrewdly within a global strategy that goes from the Middle East to Africa, passing through Ukraine and the Balkans. Like it or not, the sultan could become one of the most influential international leaders of the coming years. In fact, it is carving out a central role in almost all the most important crisis theaters. And he has every intention, sooner or later, of moving on to cash.
