Turkey reiterated its commitment to enhancing relationships with Africa during the recent African summit held in Djibouti on Sunday. The summit featured discussions on the importance of African support for diplomatic initiatives aimed at aiding Palestinians.
In recent years, Turkey has made substantial investments across the African continent, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan undertaking 50 visits to 31 nations during his 20-year presidency. The latest ministerial meeting in Djibouti welcomed representatives from 14 African countries, including Angola, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Libya, Mauritania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who presided over the summit, highlighted that trade between Turkey and Africa exceeded $35 billion last year, while direct investments reached $7 billion. “Turkey is taking a comprehensive approach to enhancing our trade and economic partnership with the continent,” Fidan stated.
Turkey has also positioned itself as the fourth largest arms supplier to sub-Saharan Africa and has played a role in training military forces across several countries. In recent months, Turkey has sought to mediate tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia and has finalized a mining agreement with Niger.
Fidan expressed support for the African Union’s bid for permanent membership in the G20 and emphasized the need for reform within the United Nations Security Council. “We need to continue efforts to make the UN more relevant and capable of addressing the complex challenges of our time. Reforming the Security Council is vital,” he asserted.
Additionally, Fidan called for increased African involvement in the Israel-Palestinian conflict, stating, “Africa can play a crucial role in advocating for the Palestinian cause and curtailing Israeli actions.” He acknowledged the African nations standing in solidarity with Palestine, particularly South Africa’s recent submission of evidence of alleged genocide by Israel to the International Criminal Court.
The next Turkiye-Africa Summit is scheduled for 2026, continuing Turkey’s efforts to foster deeper ties with the continent.
