Erdogan maintains Turkish diplomatic push in Africa

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently on a four-day tour to three African countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau, after receiving invitations from his African counterparts.

This visit is an opportunity to strengthen relations between African countries and Turkey, especially on security and economic issues.

Accompanied by government officials and Turkish businessmen, President Erdogan struck several agreements at the end of his weekend visit in Kinshasa with his DRC counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi. Among them is a military framework agreement, a protocol on financial aid, and a cooperation deal on the defence industry, according to Congolese sources.

Tshisekedi has publicly announced that he has requested Turkish assistance to combat terrorist militias in the east of the country, which threatens the safety of civilians. Indeed, Turkey's defence should therefore expand further in Africa, as it has been gradually spreading out since the establishment of its first African military base in Somalia in 2017. 

However, Turkish influence goes beyond that, with ambitions in economic matters.

The two parties have steadily increased their trade since the African Union declared Turkey a "strategic partner" in 2008. For the past 20 years, the volume of its trade with the continent has increased from $2 billion to at least $25 billion today.

In 2021, according to the Turkish pro-government Daily Sabah, Turkish exports to countries in the region soared 31% to $7.9 billion year-on-year, while its imports were up 10% to $2.8 billion in the same period.

These figures correlate perfectly with intense Turkish diplomatic work on the continent, as since 2005, Turkey has opened more than 40 embassies on the African continent, while expanding the network of its national airline Turkish Airlines.

After visiting Senegal today, Erdogan is expected to continue his charm offensive in Guinea-Bissau in the coming days, thus asserting his presence in the region at a time when many Western forces - French and European - are becoming increasingly unpopular.

Sources: CommonSpace.eu with RFI (Île-de-France), Daily Sabah (Istanbul), Le Monde (Paris)

Picture: President Erdogan with his DRC counterpart on Sunday

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a Council of Europe member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.” “I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights. It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned, and which should have no place in a democratic society, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights of everyone.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a Council of Europe member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.” “I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights. It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned, and which should have no place in a democratic society, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights of everyone.