ANKARA, Turkey — On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan engaged in a phone conversation with Sudanese military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, during which he proposed to mediate the escalating tensions with the United Arab Emirates, as stated by Erdogan’s office.

Erdogan’s offer comes shortly after he successfully facilitated a dialogue between Ethiopia and Somalia. This agreement is intended to kick off technical discussions to address a conflict that surfaced after Ethiopia entered into an agreement with Somaliland, an autonomous region of Somalia.

In his conversation with Burhan, Erdogan expressed Turkey’s readiness to assist in resolving disputes between Sudan and the UAE. He emphasized Turkey’s commitment to “establishing peace and stability in Sudan,” while also upholding the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and preventing it from becoming embroiled in external conflicts, according to a statement from the Turkish presidential communication office.

The Sudanese authorities accuse the UAE of supplying arms to a competing paramilitary faction, thereby exacerbating the ongoing strife in Sudan. In contrast, the UAE denies these claims and contends that the Sudanese government is unwilling to engage in peace negotiations with its adversaries.

The conflict in Sudan erupted in mid-April 2023, driven by long-standing tensions between military and paramilitary factions. This violence has since spread from the capital, Khartoum, into the Darfur region and beyond, displacing over 13 million individuals and contributing to a dire humanitarian situation within the country.

Earlier this week, President Erdogan held discussions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Ankara. After these meetings, the three leaders released a joint statement that reaffirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity while recognizing Ethiopia’s interest in accessing the sea. They also committed to initiating discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing disputes.

The strain between Ethiopia and Somalia has intensified since Ethiopia entered a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland in January. This pact included plans to lease land along Somaliland’s coastline for a marine facility, which Ethiopia conditioned on recognizing Somaliland’s independence—an action that Somalia argues violates its sovereignty and territorial rights.