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Australian Finance & Banking Review 

Vol. 1, No. 1; 2017 

Published by Centre for Research on Islamic Banking & Finance and Business 

 

66 
 

 

Turkey-Africa Relations: Opportunities and Challenges 
 

Yusuf Ibrahim Gamawa1 

 

1Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria 

Correspondence: Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria.Email: yusufgamawa@ymail.com 

 

 

Received: October 07, 2017     Accepted: October 10, 2017      Online Published: October 15, 2017 

 

Abstract 

The Continent of Africa had been of great importance to many Countries outside Africa, Since the begining of 

the slave trade when European slave merchants invaded Africa and estalished the trade in human beings, which 

forced the migration of millions of Africans to America and the West Indies. Since then, the Continent had 

faced a continued influx of people for different purposes even after the abolution of slavery. The main attraction 

to Africa, has been its human and rich mineral resources scattered across the continent, as well as its vast market 

for foreign goods.This paper examines the relations between the republic of Turkey and countries of the African 

Continent, especially in 1990’s and 2000’s when the republic of Turkey began to develop interest to have 

relation with African countries. There were so many reasons that motivated and ignited the interest of Turkey in 

Africa all of a sudden, and this paper tried to present such reasons and also show how the republic of Turkey 

tried to establish such relations, the manner in which Turkey went about realising this objective of having deep 

economic, political and social relation with countries of the African Continent. The paper also tried to look at 

relations between Ottoman Turkey and Africa, though as a background to the present relations.It tried also to see 

what challenges there are in this relations, in the future or now, and also tried as much as possible to look at 

some policy suggestions regarding this symbiotic relations between Turkey and African countries. The paper 

argues that Pan Africanism poses a challenge to relations between Turkey and Africa and offered some policy 

suggestions that will deepen integration between Turkey and African States. 

 

Keywords: Turkey, Africa, Opportunities, Challenges, Pan-Africanism. 

 

1. Introduction 

The continent of Africa has witnessed influx of different people from different countries in the past several 

centuries, and from continents outside Africa.The continious interest in the continent may have come about as a 

result of several reasons. The continent first saw the coming of the Europeans around the 15th Century, during 

the transatlantic slave trade era, during which millions of Africans were forcefully taken to Europe and America 

to work in the plantation in the West Indies and which resulted today in the emergence African American 

population in the US and other countries of Europe. After the abolution of the slave trade and the subsequent 

introduction of legitimate trade, the Europeans resumed their presence in Africa, first through Christian 

missionary activities and the European civilising mission in Africa, which had been dismissed by many scholars 

as a camouflage of the imperial profit and motive, and this was followed by the introduction of trade and 

commerce with the African people. 



 

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Another significant event in the history of African relations with countries and peoples outside the African 

continent was the Berlin Conference, it was at the conference that the continent of Africa was partitioned 

between some European countries as colonies. This marked the begining of colonial conquest in Africa and the 

eventual establishment of colonial rule and the native authority system of administration throughout Africa by 

the British, French, Portuguese, Germans as well as the Italian, who divided the continent among themselves. 

The entire continent was subjugated into adopting the new system with brute force, with it, the entire framework 

of the traditional African societies and kingdoms was broken down, and a new imperial system of production 

was thus introduced. New methods of agriculture, and new crops were introduced with free African labour, an 

export oriented economy was established throughout Africa and was meant to feed the newly founded industries 

across Europe, which had emerged as a result of the industrial revolution ,particularly in England in the 1700’s, 

with raw materials. This remained the basis of the relation between the Western colonial powers and Africa 

throughout the period of colonial rule, and what followed afterwards, was the gradual assimilation of the 

continent into the global imperialistic capitalist economy even after African nations had attained independence, 

the newly emerging states found themselves trapped in this system of global economic exploitation, and the 

never ending natural destiny of dependence on Western industrialised nations for technical assistance and 

socio-economic development of the continent which has remained illussive despite all the resources and 

pottentials present in the continent. The relationship till today has remained one that is marked by in 

commensurate development of the continent and the exploitation of its resources and peoples. Although many 

argued that the Africans had benefited from their relation with the Western nations, which the claim is sees in 

the modernisation of their societies and interms of western education, as against the primitive African societies 

that existed in the past. But many scholars also argued that it was European incursion into Africa that interrupted 

the indegenous natural process of the development of the Africans in all areas and even education, as a result of 

the contact with Islam on the continent, which had led to the founding of Islamic madrasas in many parts of 

Africa. 

This indegenous development process of Africa is evidenced by archaelogical findings in the form of the 

existence of traditional technology, in traditional medicines, development of tools, and of iron ore local 

industries in Africa even in those times, is sufficient to support the natural development process of Africa. The 

exploitation of Africa continued till today, though in a very sophisticated and unpredictable manner, that today it 

is difficult to point out a particular way in which the continent is being sabotaged, but yet neo-colonialism is a 

phenomenum that is real in Africa, and it means the continious manipulation and mangement of the African 

economy and its growth by the Western industrialised capitalist nations and their cronnies, in league with 

indegenous Africans who act as intermedairies to this exploitative and manipulative system that is against the 

growth and development of Africa. The Western nations succeeded in creating a very vast market for the goods 

produced in their various countries, and thus turned Africa into a dumping ground for their manufactured goods 

and created an array services in the banking, insurance and communication sectors of the African economy 

which remains squarely under their control, and which has continued to attract other lesser developed nations to 

participate in the same venture. 

The result is that today Africa has become a market not only to the Western industrialised nations,but to many 

emerging economies in Asia and other parts of the world such as China, Japan, India, South korea, Indonesia, 

Malaysia, Singapore, Israel and a host of others. And many other countries are seeking opportunities to come 

into Africa, and still strategising on how to tap from the vast resources of the continent. So today if Turkey is 



 

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reaching out to Africa, it is because of the huge market pottential as well as for its enormous mineral resources, 

including its oil and gas deposits that is scattered across the continent. Turkey’s Africa policy is designed to 

deepen relations for maximum benefit, and it remains an opportunity for Turkey to prove to Africa the 

genuineness of its Africa policy, different from what the continent had experienced in the past with other 

countries. 

2. Background of Turkey-African Relations 

There are basically two distinct Turkish conception of Africa, based on geographical divide; North Africa and 

Sub- Saharan Africa. However both conceptions have been shaped in the Turkish psyche by historical 

developments, mainly from Ottoman times, and this has been articulated in classical Turkish foreign policy 

towards the continent. Turkey has had strong relations with North Africa, as it was part of the Ottoman state, 

dating back to the 15th and 16th Centuries, while relations with sub-Saharan Africa is more of a recent 

development, begining from the 19th Century. North Africa and their close historical connection with the 

Ottomans, which created an understanding that it is part of the Turkish periphery, is also seen to be part of the 

broader Middle East, which Turkey feels very close. Whereas Sub- Saharan Africa is usually viewed as far away 

land, full of problem, hunger, diseases and civil wars. 

Turkey’s relations with Africa can be divided into three periods, the first can be regarded as the Ottoman empire 

relations with Africa until the establishment of the republic in 1923, and between 1923 and 1998, when relations 

between Turkey and Africa seemed to be non existent, and after 1998, when Turkey’s interest in Africa became 

gradually revived, and in 2005, Turkey declared the year as the year of Africa. In 2008, the first ever Turkey- 

Africa Cooperation Summit was held in Istanbul, with the participation of representatives from 51 African 

Countries. The old Ottoman empire had relations with North African states like Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and 

Algeria, which were partially or totally included in the Ottoman state, states such as Sudan, Eriteria, Ethiopia, 

Djibouti, Somalia,  Niger and Chad inclusive. The Ottoman’s were also part of the balance of power system, 

having friendship and a defence pact with the Kanem Borno empire, which prevailed in todays northern Nigeria, 

Niger and Chad. The defense pact was signed in 1575, during the reign of Sultan Murad III, consequent upon 

which military equipment and defense officials were despatched to Kanem Borno to help the Mai’s army in 

accordance with the defense pact between the two great empires. In 1849, the Ottoman sent a special envoy to 

Lagos when its first mosque was built. Confering on the community leader the title of “BEY”, whose family is 

stil playing an important role in social and political life of Nigeria, the Shitta Bey family are still well known in 

Nigeria. 

The Ottoman state had diplomatic representation in South Africa since 1861. The Ottomans sent Imams to 

Muslims of the Cape of Good Hope in 1863, upon the request of the community,  resulting into a strong 

relationship between the Muslims of the Cape of Good Hope and the Ottoman state. After the founding of the 

Turkish republic in 1923, Turkey- Africa relations witnessed tremendous decline, arising mainly from internal 

problems from within Turkey, and also within the African Continent, which at this time was going through the 

painful period of Colonial rule. Although during the cold war period, Turkey began to consider its relations to 

Africa with importance, and began establishing links with the North African Countries economically and 

politically. However, these relations were shaped by the conditions of the cold war bipolarity, and thus were at 

odds with the historical public sentiment toward the continent. At Ghana’s independence in 1957, Turkey 

recognised Ghana and opened an Embassy, and subsequently recognised all newly independent states, 

established diplomatic relations and opened Embassies in many of them. However this was not seen as a long 



 

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term significant relationship and Turkey was not involved in African Affairs.  M.Ozkan (2010). 

3. Turkey and Africa Today 

In 1998, the republic of Turkey came up with its “opening up to Africa policy”. And in 2005, Turkey declared 

the year as “The Year of Africa”, which was followed by the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit held in 

Istanbul in 2008, which proved to be a very important stage in the history of Turkey – Africa relations. At this 

Summit “The Istanbul Declaration on Turkey- Africa Partnership: Cooperation and Solidarity for a Common 

Future” and “ Cooperation framework for Turkey- Africa Partnership” were unanimously accepted. 49 countries 

participated in the summit, including 6 Presidents, 5 Vice Presidents, 7 Prime Ministers, 12 Ministers, 11 

International and Regional Organisation representatives including the African Union. These African countries at 

the end of the summit declared the republic of Turkey as a “strategic partner”. Since then, Turkey attached great 

importance to the development of bilateral relations and rapproachment with African countries, and the 

establishment of new diplomatic missions in African countries which it hitherto had no relations with, paying 

mutual visits, having contacts at all levels, creating cooperation mechanisms and signing necessary Agreements. 

Turkey increased the number of its missions and opened new embassies in Tanzania, Ivory Coast, in 2009.  

Cameroun, Mali, Ghana, Uganda, Angola and Madagascar in 2010. While Zambia, mozambique, Mauritania, 

Zimbabwe, Somali, Gambia and South Sudan were opened in 2011. Niger, Namibia, Burkinna fasso and Gabon 

were opened in 2012, bringing Turkey’s mission in the African Continent to a total of 31. In recent years, 

reciprocal high level visits have been made between Turkey and African countries. Turkey’s President,  

Abdullah Gul paid visits to the African countries of Ghana and Gabon in 2011, Kenya and Tanzania in 2009, 

Congo, Cameroun and Nigeria in 2010. Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey paid visits to Ethiopia, Sudan, 

Somali and South Africa. And on the other hand African Heads of States and Presidents of Chad, Somali, 

Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Mauritania and Djibouti also visited the republic of Turkey as a result of 

Turkey’s first step in establishing relations with countries of the African continent. Orsam Report (2012)The 

first overseas visit of 2013 by Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was to the three Francophone 

West African countries of Gabon, Niger, and Senegal. He was accompanied by 250 businessmen. Gabon has oil 

resources, while Niger is an important source of uranium. Turkey has begun building its first nuclear reactor and 

plans to build two more by 2023. According to Ali Engin Oba, a former Turkish ambassador in Africa: "Certain 

groups in Africa are already showing efforts to break away from the influence of the big colonizing powers. 

Those groups are aware of France's economic problems and could guess that France would not continue its 

former level of interest in Africa because of those problems. So, they are trying to develop relations with powers 

that may want to develop economic, social and cultural solidarity with them, including Turkey. Courcy’s Brief 

(2013) 

4.Turkey’s New Foregn Policy and the States in Africa 

In discussing Turkish foreign policy, geographical location must be taken into consideration. Turkey is located 

at the crossroad of three different continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, and has as a result interacted with 

people from the three different continents. Africa is a huge continent with rich natural resources, vast 

agricultural arable land and human resources. There are 53 countries in Africa, and about 12% of the world 

population live on the African continent. Production of good and services in the continent is 3.3% in2010, 

Africa’s population is expected to be more than 1 billion, which would represent 15.3% of the world’s 

population. The economic growth rates in Africa in 1996 and 1998 had consecutively been 5.9% and 3.4% 

representing more than that of the world’s average growth rates. Africa is very rich in natural resources, and 



 

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there is need for the natural resources of the country to be exploited, it is a huge market for traders and 

contractors to do bussiness and invest. Many countries have strong foothold in Africa, Turkey is not among 

these countries. Africa is considered to be the continent of the future as indicated by the statistical figures 

above.S.Z.Karaca (2000) The Americans, British, Germans, French, Italians, Chinese, Japanese and many others 

are going to Africa, and there is strong competition for control and influence among these powers. But despite 

all these, there is still a place for Turkey in most African countries to establish new contacts and coperations as 

well as to further and develop all kinds of existing Bilateral relationships for mutual interest. Turkey with its big 

pottential for development has many things to share with friendly foreign nations. The model and level of 

Turkey’s industrial development is more suitable for the economic development of African countries. Statistics 

on trade between Turkey and African states shows that Turkey’s exports to Africa rose from 748 Million dollars 

in 1990, to 1.8 Billion in 1998, while its import rose from 800 Million USD IN 1990,  to 1.7 Billion USD IN 

1998. Exports increased by 115%, and imports by 104%. S.Z.Karaca (2000)The African import market has a 

volume of 134 Billion in 1998, and Turkey’s share was only 1.8 Billion or 1.4%, in order for Turkey to make 

sustained efforts to improve its trade transaction and economic cooperation, Turkey must have more developed 

relations with African countries. And as a result, to achieve this, the government of Turkey decided to 

implement a new plicy of openning up to Africa, to overcome the difficulty and obstacles in promoting its 

relations with Africa, and an action plan was prepared to implement this policy. S.Z.Karaca (2000) 

4.1 Political Measures of the Action Plan 

 Realisation of high level visits from African Countries. 

 Establishment of political consultation mechanisms at foreign ministry level. 

 Intensification of contacts with African countries within International organisations such as UN, OIC 

etc. 

 Mutual Inter- Parliamentary visits. 

 Realisation of humanitarian assistance. 

 Contribution to various technical assistance programmes. 

4.2 Economic Measures of the Action Plan 

 Conclusion of Agreements of trade, technical, economic and scientific cooperations, prevention of 

double taxation and mutual promotion and protection of investments inorder to completethe legal 

frame work of economic and trade relations. 

 Invitation of Technical ministers form Africa such as ministers of trade, industry, health, agriculture 

and education 

 Invitation of experts to short term training programmes in technical fields. 

 Organisation of technical assistance for African countries. 

 Realisation of Turkey’s membership in the African Development Bank as a non regional member. 

 Realisation of Turkey’s membership as share holder in the African Exports and Imports Bank. 

 Exchange of visits by bussinessmen. 

 Creation of a joint Bussiness council or Chambers of Commerce by encouraging contact among 

private sectors. Orsam Report (2012) 



 

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5.Turkey’s Soft Power Approach Towards Africa 

The institutionalisation of the initiative of the new policy of opening up to Africa, remained a big challenge and 

yet important on for Turkey, as it will determine the failure or success of the policy. This is despite the fact that 

the action plan had identified step and areas upon which the plan could be implemented. And it was generally 

thought that mere encouragement of bussinessmen and international contractors to do bussiness and invest is not 

enough, Turkey’s approach considers the importance of cooperation in education and cultural fields, if openning 

up to Africa policy is to succeed. Turkey’s soft power approach considered three major areas of cooperation, 

and this includes; Education, trade/ economic realations and Humanitarian aid as the most important. 

6. Cooperation in Education and Cultural Fields 

In the past two decades there has been influx of African students to Turkey into Turkish Universities to study 

through the initiative of the Turkish government, sometimes under the Bilateral education Agreement with some 

African countries, through the Inter-govermental Exchange of scholarship. These students have been required to 

acquire speaking; reading and writing competence in Turkish language, to enable them integrate and function 

fully within the Turkish society. Turkish Nile University was founded in Nigeria, while Turkish International 

Colleges were strategically established in important African countries such as Kenya, Senegal and Nigeria. 

7. Humanitarian Aid 

Aid remained one of the strongest elements in Turkey’s overall policy towards Africa in particular. The Turkish 

Aid Agency, the Cooperation and Development Administration of Turkey, operates in Africa, with offices 

located in Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Dakar, as part of Turkey’s development aid to Africa. Turkey has 

promised to provide technical assistance to African countries through such cooperation, and is striving to open 

affiliate offices in other African countries to cement cooperation with Africa on certain priorities which the 

Turkish President Abdullah Gul identified as “Health, Education, Agriculture, Enviroment, Infrastructure and 

capacity building”. Through some International organisations like the UN World Food Programme, Turkey has 

donated 7.5 Million Dollars to various African countries. In 2008, 3.5 Million USD was donated for a similar 

purpose through the world food programme. When Turkey hosted the Least Developing Countries Summitat 

Istanbul in 2007, it committed 20 Million USD for the development aid of these countries which numbered 49, 

and 33 of which are African countries. 

8. Trade and Economic Relations 

According to the Turkish Confederation of Bussinessmen and Industrialists, through its Turkey –Africa 

bussiness meetings, African countries are mostly demanding furniture, apparels, durable house products, home 

textiles, processed food, packaging devices, iron-steel, electrical devices and construction materials. The 

Turkish Bussinessmen Confederation has always underlined the importance of investing in drilling and 

construction industries. The current nature of relations is not exhaustive and the cooperation is yet to be fully 

explored. Turkey’s import from Africa includes oil, raw material, gold and minerals. Turkey’s approach to 

developing trade with African nations differ from those of other countries seeking opportunity on the continent, 

and whose overiding interests are Africa’s oil resources. Africans seem to be interested in Turkey’s agricultural 

expertise, and Turkey carries non of the free market capitalist baggages aimed at securing the best deal at any 

cost by those countries, a policy which Africans so resent, by concentrating on lower profile development issues 

such as agriculture. Turkey’s iniatiatives arguably carry the promise of effecting genuine change in the lives of 

the masses of Africans. Turkey’s trade volume with Africa was only 5.4 Billion USD in 2003; since then it 

steadily increased more than two fold exceeding 12 Billion USD in 2007. Turkey’s total global trade volume 



 

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stands at about 300 Billion, Turkey aims to make its trade volume with Africa to about 30 Billion by 2010. 

Contracting services provided by Turkish firms alone in those African countries have reached a total of 18 

Billion USD. The amount of direct Turkish investment in African countries exceeds 500 Million USD, and is 

expected to increase in the future. Turkey became a non regional member of the of the African Development 

Bank, and African Export/ Import Bank such membership is expected to open new areas of cooperation which 

could assist contracting firms from Turkey undertaking large infrastructural projects on the continent.M.Ozkan 

(2010) The tables below shows the volume of trade between Turkey and some selected African countries 

between 1997 and year 2008. 

 Exports 

Million 

US$    

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 

South 

Africa 

72   73        59    72 78 88 122 191 316 599 654 1239 

Nigeria   17     24 38 46 70 63 67 81 99 84 134 281 

Sudan 26         35 34 38       55 60 64 89 146 217 180 235 

Kenya 10          13 12 8        11 9 14 18 51 86 99 234 

Angola   3 3           3 5 9 12 14 23 27 45 48 183 

Total 128 148      146 146 223 232 281 402 639 1031 1115 2172 

 

Imports 

Million 

US$    

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 

South 

Africa 

184 153 124 172 346 212 336 1007 1260 1794 173 1503 

Nigeria   17 3 5 133 229 182 224 195 235 381 494 522 

Sudan 10 12 8 5 2 13 8 13 8 8 9 10 

Kenya 4 2 2 3 4 3 2 2 2 4 13 13 

Angola   1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 27 1 17 

Total 216 171 140 314 582 411 571 1218 1515 2214 2690 2065 

Source: Turkish PM, the Undersecretary of Customs website, http://www.gumruk.gov.tr (14.12.2009);totals 

may not add up, due to rounding. 

9. Activities of Turkısh State Agencies and NGO’s in Africa 

Since the adoption of the policy of opening up to Africa, many state agencies started to play a very active role in 

many African countries. The Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TIKA) AND THE Dırectorate for 

Religious Affairs of Turkey(Diyanet) remain important and their activities reflect the level of Turkish 

involvement in Africa. Part of the Turkish policy is humanitarian aid to Africa, and this is despite the fact that 

Turkey is itself a recipient country. The humanitarian aid policy became more viable after TIKA as an 

organisation had been formed in 1992. It is the governments offical development cooperation agency, and had 

opened development offices in twenty one African countries with a view to offering assistance through technical 

projects and humanitarian activities. It was initially established to help transition of the states in Central Asia, 

Caucasus and the Balkans, but from 2003 it turned into a more global aid agency and expanded its areas of 



 

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operation paralel to Turkey’s diversfying foreign engagements. Between 1992-2002, TIKA had conducted 2,346 

projects and activities throughout Africa, its total number of projects increased in 2003 to 2,780 mostly in Africa 

and the Middle East. M.Ozkan & B.Akgun (2010) It sponsored projects in Africa which rose from 45 in 2005, to 

150 in 2006. TIKA’s projects and activities in Africa were designed to serve long term purposes, which include 

among other things, the development of social infrastructure, cultural cooperation and communication, 

economic infrastructure and to a less degree, provide support in urgent humanitarian crises. In accordance with 

this, TIKA initiated an agricultural development programme to be implemented in 13 African countries. 

M.Ozkan & B. Akgun (2010) 

Turkey’s policy towards Africa has gone far beyond political and economic areas, Diyanet had only recently 

invited religious leaders from African countries for consultation and cooperation. The Religious Leaders 

Meeting of African Continent Muslim Countries and Societies was held in Istanbul in 2006, with the 

participation of representatives from 21 African countries. The Turkish conception of of Islamic understanding 

is compatible with Democratic values and provides an alternative to that fostered in Africa, by a number of 

Muslim states. In the past, the civil society played a limited role in Turkish foreign policy, but for the first time, 

the civil society is playing an active role, promoting a policy backed by the state, especially of the relations 

between Turkey and Africa, than any field of Turkey’s foreign policy. Organisations such as the the 

Confederation of Turkich Bussineesmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUKSON) , AND THE Internatıonal Aid 

Organisation and the Foundation for Human Rights and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) , Have not only paved the 

way for Turkey- Africa relations, but have indeed accelerated the process for the development of such relations. 

These organisations raised raised awareness about Africa, both for its economic opportunities, and for political 

and humanitarian engagements. The traditional Turkish image of Africa, as one of hunger, poverty and disease 

became reformulated and articulated by Turkish civil society organisations present in Africa. M.Ozkan 

&B.Akgun (2010) 

TUKSON had recently organised five International Trade Summits to boost Turkey’s economic relations with 3 

African countries. These summits brought Africa to the attention of Turkey, and created an avenue for both 

sides to intereact and explore possible forms of cooperation. TUKSON represent 11, 500 bussinessmen 

throughout Turkey. Today 134 TUKSON members have significant investments in Africa, members have 

opened Turkish schools totalling 60 in 30 different countries across Africa. Turkey’s flourishing new 

bussinessmen also provide funds for humanitarian Works and relief efforts undertaken by Turkish NGO’s in the 

continent. The IHH, A Turkısh Humanitarian Organisation, operating in about 112 countries including Africa, 

became a Pioneer charity NGO in Turkish society, creating awareness of human suffering to the larger Turkish 

society, encouraging charity to poor African communities. The IHH also ientified HIV/AIDS as an area in 

health, as well as blindness due to cataract, and made donations and conducted operations to victims. It launched 

a programme to cure blindness caused by cataract, and had carried out operation to about 35,000 people across 

the African continent. M.Ozkan & B.Akgun (2010) Turkey’s African opening was found beneficial by Africans 

and as a result many African countries are considering Turkey as a partner despite mixed feelings. 

10. Turkey–Africa Relations and Challenges of Pan Africanism  

Pan-Africanism is perceived as the need to mobilise peoples of Africa against racism, it is a political philosophy 

behind current efforts to achieve political unity in Africa through the instrumentality of the African Union. 

S.Okhonmina (2008) The transatlantic slave trade was a significant landmark in the annals of African history, it 



 

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produced forced migration of millions of Africans as slave labourers to Europe, the Americas and the Carribean. 

The carry over of Africans to the new world has kept alive their African roots. It is believed that this was what 

laid the foundations of Pan-Africanism and Black nationalism in the United States and West Indies. It began 

with the founding of the African Association in London in 1897 and the Pan-African Conference 3 years later. 

Dr W.E.B Dubois had between 1900 and 1945 organised and participated in a series of Pan-African Congresses 

in the US and Europe, which brought togather peoples of African descent from Americas, Africa and Europe. In 

the 1920’s, Marcus Garvey also began to promote African nationalism with the motto “Africa for Africans”. 

The Africans after independence shared the common experience of subjugation to slavery, colonialism and 

imperialism, this experience and memories of marginalisation and socio-cultural and racial affinities developed 

a collective solidarity- a sense of oneness and concioussness of belonging to Africa. This became a powerful 

mobilising and unifying force for African peoples and societies rooted in Pan-Africanism. P.G Adogamhe 

(2008) 

The Pan-African movement was essentially a protest of Black people against their exploitation, against racism, 

and for the dignity and upliftment of the Black people. A. Bujra (2002) African states are systems  of 

patronage, their external relation is designed to generate funds that oil this network of patronage in the form 

organisations and transnational bodies and NGO’S. Most Africans identify and place more emphasis on the 

external causes of their crises, even though colonialism created the basic conditions of these crises, of dependent 

economies, divided people, undeveloped human resources etc. The international commodity market and the 

financial system and the dominant role of western and transnational corporations are formidable barriers which 

weaken African countries, and Africa finds it difficult to economically develop, create nation states and develop 

their human and natural resources. Institutions and Donor countries intervened in African economies to help 

Africans overcome their crises, but such interventions simply perpetuated the unequal and exploitative 

relationship between Africa and the global system. A.Bujra (2002) Pan-Africanism has in the 21st Century, 

transformed into a mobilising ideology and a development blue print. The idea of a United States of Africa was 

first muted in a Pan-African meeting in Cairo in 1960, by  Dr Kwame Nkrumah. The African Union was 

therefore a product of many years of Pan Africanist aspirations. It is the expression of Pan Africanism as a 

structural working frame work for action in regard to the multiple issues facing the african people. S.Okhonmina 

(2008) The former President of Nigeria, at the AU meeting said “The goal of the African Union must be the 

unity of all Africans and people of African descent in the diaspora. Such unity is merely a means to the ultimate 

goal, which is the development and transformation of our people and Continent.” S.Okhonmina (2008) 

11. Turkey-Africa Relations and Mutual Benefits 

 Turkey’s experience as a medium-sized country that has both modernized politically and developed 

economically is one that resonates with many African countries and, in point of fact, is probably a more 

reasonable model for their emulation than China or India, both of which are unique in their global standing. 

 African states stand to benefit from Turkey’s new interest in their continent insofar as the addition of yet 

another suitor enables them to diversify their sources of foreign investments and other partnerships so as to 

not become too dependent on the United States, France, China, Britain, India, or any other single outside 

actor. The key, however, is that Africa’s leaders must be prepared to approach this opportunity 

strategically – a feat that many have not always been particularly adept at if history is any indication. 

 Not only does Africa clearly provides a new market for the growing Turkish economy, but, at a time when 



 

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the Turkey’s eventual integration into the European Union is very much in doubt, the nations of the 

continent provide Ankara with a much-needed avenue to diversify its diplomatic portfolio. The 

recalibration of Turkey’s foreign policy as well as the country’s bolder forays into global politics – as 

witnessed by the recent attempt by Prime Minister Erdoğan and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da 

Silva to broker a deal in the standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions – will have considerable impact on the 

international system in general and regional balance of power in particular, to say nothing of the NATO 

alliance which Turkey has been a member of since 1952. 

 Turkey’s reentry into Africa does not come without its complications. In November, 2012 for example, 

controversy was stirred when Sudan’s International Criminal Court-indicted ruler, Umar Hassan al-Bashir, 

was invited to an economic and commercial cooperation conference being held in Istanbul. Faced with 

blistering global criticism for planning to host the subject of an international arrest warrant charging him 

with five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for his role in the humanitarian 

disaster in Darfur, Turkish officials prevailed upon the Sudanese ruler to cancel his visit less than 

twenty-four hours before he was due to arrive. Nonetheless the episode underscored the potential that 

American and European governments might find their ability to impose reform agendas and other leverage 

in Africa diminished as a result the arrival of the Turks on the scene. 

 While the Turkish example of secularism in politics in the modern period is probably one worth 

considering for Africans who have been faced with religiously-stoked communal tensions such as those in 

Nigeria over the imposition of Islamic law in northern states, the growing concern that the AKP 

government in Ankara may be chipping away at that very secularism is reason enough for a cautionary 

attitude concerning Turkey’s increasing engagement on the continent. The geostrategic implications of a 

Middle Eastern power with an Islamist orientation acquiring a greater stake in Africa cannot be ignored. 

J.P.Pham (2010) 

12. Policy Recommendation 

 Turkey should have different ways of considering and dealing with Africa and African issues. Africa is not 

one or united. A divisive and regional approach is necessary for success. In addition to North Africa, one 

can see four regions: south, central, west and east Africa. Each has different characteristics, mostly due to 

varying ethnic-religious compositions and colonial backgrounds. 

 A gateway country-based approach is also needed. In each region, there are some key countries; if possible, 

Turkey should pay special attention in developing bilateral relations with them without sidelining others. 

Tentatively, South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal can be 

named. The more Turkey strengthens its relations with these key countries, the more it can feel secure in 

Africa. 

 The different colonial backgrounds of the countries in Africa play quite decisive roles in African politics. 

British, Francophone, Portuguese and Spanish Africa are all different in their ways of thinking and their 

approach to issues. This fact should be taken seriously while developing relations with 

 each country. 

 There exist two types of leadership in Africa. One is represented by the older generation, those who led the 

processes of decolonization and independence for their countries. The other is the second generation: 



 

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76 
 

leaders after the independence. While the former are more or less inward-looking and suspicious of foreign 

help, the latter are for the most part forward-looking and willing to work with outside powers. Intensifying 

relations with the latter group could make Turkey’s relations with Africa more meaningful and long-lasting. 

 Turkey has recently developed its relations with Africa at the institutional level, involving itself in such 

bodies as the African Union and Africa Development Bank. Ankara should continue to strengthen ties with 

the existing institutions in Africa (NEPAD, IGAD, SADC, ECOWAS, etc.) as part of its long-term policy. 

Turkey should envision and implement the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit as a venue for forging a 

common, institutionalized form of Turkish-African relations. 

 Turkey’s Africa policy should have global dynamics. Following on, and if possible participating in, such 

inter-continental groupings as the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA Dialogue Forum) is the 

best way to link relations with Africa and the world. This linkage could expand boundaries of relations 

between Turkey and Africa by adding an international dimension. 

The most persistent issue looming between Turkey and Africa is the lack of information about the other on both 

sides. Three strategies could be implemented: 

A. Promote support for sending exchange students to studying in each other’s countries and learn about each 

other. This will bridge the societal and informational gap. 

B.  Exchange academics between universities. Especially in southern Africa, there is a lack of experts on the 

Middle East and Turkey, and the same is true for Turkey about Africa. Creating an African chair for African 

professors in one (or more) of the Turkish universities that offer education in English would be a good start. 

This might lead to an institute in the long run. 

C. Support cooperation between African and Turkish think-tanks. Organizing joint conferences and 

publications about both sides on Turkish and African issues would create awareness, equally important on both 

sides.M.Ozkan (2008) 

There is need to introduce the study of languages in both Turkey and Africa, some Universities, even as regional 

centres, would be encouraged to offer courses in Turkish language. And on their part, Turkish Universities could 

also embark on a program of introducing the major African lingua franca, such as Kiswahili and Hausa. All the 

three languages are important in enhancing cooperation, not only as languages of wider communication in their 

respective regions, but also as carriers of their cultural heritage. Africans are unaware that the Turkish language 

is spoken over large swathe of Central Asia, with speakers numbering 141 Million, equally Turks are unaware 

that there are over 100 Million speaker of Kiswahili, spread over East and Central Africa, and well over 200 

Million speakers of Hausa mainly in Nigeria, spread all over West Africa. M.Bakari (2005) 

13. Conclusion 

Relations between Turkey and Africa started from Ottoman times, even though these relation was interrupted by 

certain changes, both in Turkey and in Africa as well. The end of world war I saw the dissentegration of the 

Ottoman empire and the Emergence of modern Turkey. In Africa, it was the Berlin conference that saw to the 

collapse of many Empires that hitherto had relations with the Ottomans such as Kanem. Relations remained 

limited between Modern Turkey and the emerging new African states until the 1990’s and the 2000’s. It was 

during this period that Turkey realised the importance of the African continent to its economy and politics and 

carefully designed and came up with an active policy framework to deepen its relation with Africa, which seems 



 

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77 
 

to be way on course. But this relation is certainly not without some challenges and in this regard the Pan 

Africanist aspiration of the Africans remains a big challenge to Turkey and any foreign country on the African 

continent now and in the future, despite the flexible global integration policy within the continent. 

Pan-Africanism is at the heart of Africa’s economic and political trasformation programme for over a century, 

and all major economic and political development programmes in Africa are centred on Pan-African ideals. A 

typical example of the misunderstanding in the perception and relations between Turkey and Africa can be seen 

in the recent activities of Turkish bussinessmen in eastern Nigeria where the sided and identified with IPOB, an 

ethnic separatist group. The actions of the bussinessmen led to the call for the closure of Turkish Mission in 

Nigeria, the Embassy had to clearly disaasiciate itself from the activities of its citizens in Nigeria but even then 

it had already created bad feeling among Nigerians about Turkey. 

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