Turkey’s Dual Role: Mediator and Arms Supplier in Sudan’s Conflict

Since April 2023 Sudan has been engulfed in civil war which continues to receive international scrutiny because foreign nations are contributing to the ongoing conflict. The dual position of Turkey as an active mediator and weapons supplier makes its role in the situation stand out vigorously.

Baykar’s Arms Shipments to Sudan
The Washington Post released an article on March 7, 2025 which disclosed Baykar’s role as Turkey’s top defense company to secretly give Sudanese military $120 million worth of drones and warheads during 2023. Sudan received at least eight TB2 drones along with 600 warheads as part of this delivery which happened at military bases in Sudan during the active civil conflict.

Deployment of Turkish Drones in Combat
The Sudanese military operates Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey in its combat operations throughout Khartoum state. The drone operations began in October 2024 and have succeeded in hitting RSF artillery positions to the point where they destroyed more than 50% of the targets in the area.Turkish Small Arms in Sudan
Turkish small arms constitute additional military equipment provided to Sudanese security forces. Sarsilmaz operates as Turkey’s principal manufacturer of small arms by supplying AK-pattern rifles directly to Sudanese armed forces while supplying their leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and key personnel. Security personnel serving Al-Burhan utilize the SAR 15T rifles which Sarsilmaz released to the market in 2022 as a fresh modern evolution of the AK design.

Violation of International Embargoes
International laws become a concern because of these arms transfers. Amnesty International’s report “New Weapons Fueling the Sudan Conflict” shows that weapons and ammunition originating from Turkey and modernized by the country have been discovered in Sudan even though they breach the United Nations arms embargo established to protect the western Darfur area.

Implications for Turkey’s Mediator Role
Turkey loses its position as a neutral peace negotiator by providing weapons to Sudanese military forces. Through its peacemaking facade Turkey conducted military actions that worsened Sudanese violence thus making it harder to find peaceful solutions in the country.The situation in Sudan’s civil war becomes complex because Turkey performs two conflicting roles by working as a mediator while providing arms to military forces. Turkish covert weapons transfers into Sudan have worsened the conflict by increasing casualties while displacing more groups and create doubts about global arms embargo effectiveness and mediator nations’ genuine intentions.