President of the Republic of Sudan, Field Marshal Omar Al-Bashir, left for Turkey on Monday morning to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of the Turkish President, Recep Tayyeb Erdogan, for his second presidential term.
He was accompanied during the visit by the head of the executive committee for Sudanese – Turkish relations, Dr. Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz, the Minister of the Presidency, Dr. Fadul Abdalla Fadul, and the General Director of the President Offices, Hatim Hassan Bakhit.
It is to be recalled that President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan has won 52% of votes in the recent presidential elections in Turkey.
Turkey’s transition from a parliamentary democracy to a system featuring an all-powerful executive presidency marks the country’s largest shift in governance since the Turkish republic was founded out of the ruins of the Ottoman Empire almost a century ago.
Under the new presidential post, Erdogan will have sweeping powers over Turkey’s judiciary, as well as the ability to rule by decree.
“As president, I swear upon my honour and integrity, before the great Turkish nation and history, to work with all my power to protect and exalt the glory and honour of the Republic of Turkey and fulfil the duties I have taken on with impartiality,” Erdogan said as he took his oath during a special parliamentary session in Ankara.
Turkey was among the first countries which opened an Embassy in Khartoum just after the independence of Sudan in 1956.
Sudan remains one of the most important partners of Turkey in Africa with long and deep-rooted historical, religious and cultural ties. Reciprocal high level visits and various cooperation agreements have ensured steady development of bilateral relations in different fields.