Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday said he hoped Sudan would return to a "normal democratic process" after an uprising led to the army toppling President Omar al-Bashir.
The Sudanese defence minister announced earlier on Thursday that Bashir had been removed from power and detained by the army following months of protests in the northeast African country which began in December over higher bread prices.
"I hope that Sudan overcomes this affair with fraternity and ease, and I believe the country should work towards a normal democratic process," Erdoğan said during a press conference in Ankara with the president of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kabore.
Erdoğan said the situation was unclear with no "reliable information" regarding Bashir's whereabouts.
"But let me say this, the most important desire is for Sudan to get past this period with national reconciliation and peacefully, because these countries have suffered a lot from these kind of coups," Erdoğan added.
Earlier Thursday, the Sudanese army announced the "removal" of al-Bashir and the imposition of a two-year "transitional phase."
Defense Minister Awad ibn Auf also announced the imposition of a one-month curfew and a three-month state of emergency in a televised statement.
Kabore said coups are put on trial in a democratic system. In a democratic sense, Burkina Faso strongly condemns any coup attempt in the Sudan.
It was the first official visit to Turkey from Burkina Faso at the presidential level.
- RELATIONS WITH AFRICA
Turkey gives great importance to its relations with African countries. The exclusionary, arrogant and interfering attitudes towards the continental countries have no value in Turkey's eyes, Erdoğan said.
African countries have enough experiences to find a solution for their own problems within their own values, sensitivities and dynamics, he added.
On the basis of mutual respect and equal partnership, Turkey is determined to further its cooperation with Burkina Faso and African countries.
