UPDATE - Turkey’s top diplomat in Sudan for official visit

UPDATES WITH CAVUSOGLU’S ARRIVAL IN SUDAN; REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Gozde Bayar and Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s top diplomat arrived in Sudanese capital Khartoum on Friday for an official visit.

“In friendly and brotherly #Sudan for the signing ceremony of the Constitutional Declaration covering arrangements of the Transitional Civilian Authority,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter.

On Saturday, Cavusoglu will attend the signing ceremony of a power-sharing deal between rival sides in the country.

The signing ceremony of the Constitutional Declaration covers arrangements concerning the Transitional Civilian Authority, between the Forces of Freedom and Change and the Transitional Military Council, according to a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry earlier on Friday.

As part of his visit, Cavusoglu will meet with Sudanese officials and representatives from some other countries participating in the signing ceremony.

He will also meet with Turkish nationals living in Sudan, the statement added.

On Aug. 4, Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition alliance Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) initialed the declaration towards a transition to civilian rule following the ouster of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir.

Sudan has been in turmoil since April 11, when the military establishment announced al-Bashir’s removal after months of popular protests against his 30-year rule.