By Omer Erdem
KHARTUM, Sudan (AA) - The Turkish Maarif Foundation celebrated the 67th anniversary of Sudan’s independence Wednesday.
An event on the Maarif Foundation campus in the capital of Khartoum was attended by Türkiye's Ambassador to Khartoum Ismail Cobanoglu, the head of the Sudan delegation to the Turkish Red Crescent Cetin Bayatli, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Khartoum Coordinator Fulya Aslan and NGO representatives and parents.
Students presented folk dances accompanied by local music, while others sang poems and songs about heroism and patriotism.
Items and food reflecting the Sudanese culture were exhibited in the conference hall.
Cobanoglu said Türkiye was one of the first countries to recognize Sudan and open an embassy after the country gained its independence.
"All of our organizations, such as TIKA, Turkish Red Crescent and Yunus Emre Institute carry out important works for the well-being and welfare of Sudan,” said Cobanoglu. “Sudan's future is bright, good days await the country,” he said, reaffirming Türkiye’s ongoing support of the country.
The Turkish Maarif Foundation, established in 2016, is undertaking an important role in the fight against FETO in the country’s education sector.
FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup, which left 251 people dead and 2,734 injured.
Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz.