Turkish deputy FM to visit Ethiopia for talks

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar will pay a working visit to Ethiopia on May 1-4, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

In the capital Addis Ababa, Akcapar will hold talks with both Ethiopian and African Union officials.

During meetings between Akcapar and Ethiopian authorities, the repatriation of Turkish citizens in conflict-torn Sudan through Ethiopia, bilateral relations, and regional developments will be discussed, said a ministry statement.

Previously, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Akcapar will visit Ethiopia soon, touting his “expertise in mediation.

At least 528 people have been killed and more than 4,500 injured in clashes between Sudan’s army and paramilitaries since April 15, when the conflict began, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. Turkish authorities have been evacuating Turkish nationals and some others out of the country, normally using neighboring Ethiopia as a stopover on the way home.

During Akcapar’s meetings with African Union authorities, decisions taken at the Third Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit in 2021 and the progress in joint projects will be reviewed.

Opportunities for cooperation with the African Union in efforts to establish peace and stability on the continent will also be discussed, according to the statement.