Turkey’s diplomatic charm offensive in sub-Saharan Africa

With its mostly young and dynamic population of 1.25 billion people, Africa is expected to offer the world’s most attractive growth opportunities for business and investments in the next two to three decades (Gunay 2011; Ayuk 2020). To take advantage of geopolitical and business gains offered by Africa’s growth potential, Turkey has metamorphosed its relations with African countries from marginal interest during the Cold War to an unprecedented intensification and expansion initiated towards the turn of the century (Ozkan and Akgun 2010; Rudincova 2014). ¹ Ankara’s foreign policy pivot to Africa was born out of the growing realization (both in the country’s ruling political elite and the business sector) that Turkey needed to develop multiple ties and engage with non-traditional partners as the best strategy to secure its post-Cold War economic and security interests (Davutoglu 2008; Ozkan 2012). ² Expanding relations with Africa, especially with sub-Saharan Africa has therefore been one of the key tenets of the ruling Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi’s (Justice and Development Party, JDP) foreign policy since it assumed power in 2002 (Ayuk 2020; Vrey 2020).