Türkiye's African Engagement: Cultural, Economic, and Military Strategies

Mansur Ali Bilgiç - [email protected]

After installing itself through a coup d’état this July, the new management in Niger had demanded Paris to withdraw its diplomatic agents and military presence from the country.

Though reluctant at first, France’s resistance could not last long. French President Emmanuel Macron declared this week that the diplomatic representatives would be called off within this week while the 1,500 troops stationed in the country will have left by the end of the year.

Officially becoming independent in 1960, Niger could not achieve full sovereignty. The recent coup d’état has been dubbed as providing the country the freedom it sought for the past six decades.

This move from Paris indicates that Niamey will move towards the self-government it gained decades ago. Such moves took place all over the continent.

Accordingly, African nations are already seeking to cooperate with non-Western states without a colonial history, which is also strong internationally.

A minimal number of countries appear that fit this criteria. Apart from Russia and China, Türkiye is one of those states.

Africa’s rise has begun. It is significant to tread intelligently to increase links with African countries for mutual benefits.

To be a prominent actor in Africa, though nothing like the Western powers in character, Türkiye should improve its cultural influence, boost economic and political relations via expanding investments, and provide military assistance.

FILLING THE GAP

Türkiye should aim to fill the void that is to be created when France leaves the continent. The first of the three main components is cultural presence.

Türkiye’s soft power devices mainly concern themselves with the quality of life in Africa, which also constitutes one of the main pillars of foreign policy.

Ankara is already active in the continent in this manner, employing institutions such as the Turkish Red Crescent, TIKA, AFAD, Yunus Emre Institute, and Maarif Foundation. Turkish soap operas are also significantly successful in setting Türkiye’s image in more than 150 countries. Resource management in the near future should be made with the time the new generations spend on social media taken into account.

Through investments and diplomatic links, Türkiye’s economic and political cooperation with African countries has been growing in the past three decades. Infrastructural, energy, and service investments require special attention as there is a significant lack of projects in the continent. The public reacts positively to such investments, and the return on infrastructure investments will potentially be high. It is only a win-win situation.

Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) provides training services to legitimate government agencies and armed forces in Africa. According to YTB (Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities), the TAF has been training Somalian soldiers since 2017. Turkish troops have also been taking part in UN missions such as the AMISOM and the UNIFIL.

Türkiye increases its military presence and defense activities on the continent through cutting-edge military technology, training provided to the African countries, and partaking in UN-sanctioned missions.

The Turkish defense industry has advanced considerably recently. The advancements drew attention from all over the world. African governments took an interest in the materiel as well, ordering magnitudes of equipment such as the Bayraktar TB2 armed drone. Such types of equipment have changed the course of the civil war in Libya. ASELSAN, a Turkish armaments producer, has an office in South Africa and cooperates with South African defense firm Paramount Advanced Technologies, as per YTB.

With foreign influence gone, African states and peoples will find it beneficial to rely on countries that treat Africa respectfully and see its inhabitants as equals. Türkiye appears to be one country that could satisfy Africa’s needs while profiting from building good connections with the continent’s inhabitants. As Turkish authorities have been expanding their repertoire of investments in Africa, this opportunity depicts itself as one significant chance for Türkiye to consolidate its future place in the continent.