Turkey: Engagements in Africa

From Africa Intel

When we talk about foreign powers that are highly interested in Africa we always remember China, US, Russia, France, UK. And yes, these countries have a lot of projects on the continent. However in this list of countries Turkey, which also has huge ambitions and interest in Africa, is often overlooked. Why’s that? Before we answer this question we should have a brief insight in the history of Turkey-Africa relations.

🔻Engagements between Turkey and Africa date back to the Ottoman Empire period when most of the North Africa was conquered by it and Ottomans had an influence in Arab world overall.

However, after the World War I the Empire has fallen. Newly established Republic of Turkey throughout the whole 20th century had a western-oriented foreign policy and distanced itself from the non-aligned movement and from Africa.

▪️The year 2005 breathed a new life into Turkey-Africa relations when government of the Republic declared “The Year of Africa” (interestingly, a year before China did the same). 2005 started a period when Turkey implemented African Initiative Policies and wanted to, let’s call it, “reintroduce itself to the continent”.

After Erdogan took power in 2014, the Republic aimed to strengthen its institutions and partnership in Africa throughout Africa Partnership Policies. In fact, during his tenure, as his ambitions grew larger and larger, we see the increased interest in Africa, especially in it Northern regions, but more on this later.

▪️Yet still the question arises, why does Turkey need Africa? Well, for the same reason as any other nation that wants to realize foreign policy ambitions: resources, seeking influence and support for projects and ideas in international relations (especially in organizations like the UN and G20), gaining strategic foothold to expand influence into MENA region, etc. And also to counter the influence of other major nations like the US, Russia, China, France, UK.

🔻How’s Turkey doing right now in Africa?

The answer is not simple. As of now, Turkey interacts much more with the Northern Africa. The trade, official development assistance, military cooperation, foreign direct investment are all bigger with the countries of North Africa, since the region was Ottoman’s sphere of influence thus share close historical proximity with Turkey.

In Sub-Saharan Africa Turkey mostly engage with Somalia, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast.

Nevertheless,Turkish development and humanitarian aid, trade, military cooperation, towards Africa are modest compared to other foreign actors on the continent.

There are not so many major projects, and still part of them haven’t been realized, some of them are still in talks and some of them are stuck in limbo (for example, the construction of International airport in Khartoum, Sudan, was postponed multiple times and still haven’t begun).

The humanitarian aid to Somalia, for example, is big. Yet it is outshined by the USA. Africa like Turkish military industry and its inventions (like Bayraktar TB-2 drones, that are quite popular in Africa), and still Turkey currently shares only 0.5% of Africa’s total arms imports from outside the continent.

Trade, development aid, major and small projects are largely outshined by China. The list goes on.

🔻What are the reasons for this situation?

Turkey in past decades encountered numerous problems and crises, like the 2016 Turksih coup d’etat attempt and financial crisis that continues to this day. For long time Turkey’s eyes were mostly on Syria. The growing geopolitical uncertainties in its regional neighbourhood. The Republic maintains western-oriented political and trade policies.

▪️Moreover, in Africa Turkey encounters huge competition with other major nations in every field.
And last, but not the least, in some way Turkey lacks the proper vision of its involvement in Africa.

On the one hand, Republic’s policy revolves around noninvolvement in conflicts and competition with other foreign countries in Africa. On the other hand, Turkey does not have a proper niche that it can concentrate on in Africa. At the same time, the Republic does not have enough strength to fully compete with the likes of China, Russia, US, France and UK.

🔻What’s next for Turkey?

In present time the race for Africa is already in the full swing. For now, Turkey need to craft a proper roadmap for African engagement around Republic’s strengths and weaknesses.

▪️Turkey’s historical proximity with North Africa, noninvolvement in scramble for Africa especially in 20th century, ambitions, betterment of relations with Egypt, willingness to work with any administration, regardless of its views and accession to power, the decrease of French and British influence in Africa — all these things can work in favour of the Republic.

Turkey tries and tries a lot in terms of Africa, but for now it does not have a clear picture, does not know how work around its weaknesses (in terms of Africa) and that’s why mostly fails.

▪️The Republic during Erdogan rule is willing to increase its influence in the world. Africa has an important place in Turkey’s strategy. Only time will show whether Turkey joins the race for the continent or fails miserably in attempts to do something and nothing at the same time.