Turkey seeks to broaden its influence in Africa, with the first major step being a five-nation tour that began in South Africa on Sunday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will then go to Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Gabon, and then wind up the trip in Sao Tome and Principe.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Dr Naledi Pandor will host Cavusoglu on Tuesday for “political consultations”.
“It is expected that the Turkish minister’s visit will enhance political and economic relations between the two countries and deepen understanding of regional and multilateral issues,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said.
Before meeting Pandor, the Turkish envoy officially inaugurated the Turkish Consulate General in Cape Town on Monday.
In Zimbabwe, Cavusoglu will meet with Deputy President Constantino Chiwenga instead of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is on leave.
Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs Minister Fredrick Shava said the visit would “consolidate the robust and blossoming bilateral relations”.
Cavusoglu will be the most senior Turkish official to visit Zimbabwe since the country established its embassy in Zimbabwe back in 1982.
Not much has been disclosed about the latter leg of the tour to Rwanda, Gabon, and Sao Tome and Principe.
However, everything would be centred on the Turkey-Africa Partnership Policy.
Turkey Africa Partnership Policy
Turkey was granted observer status by the African Union (AU) in 2005 and later became a strategic partner in 2008 through the first Turkey-Africa summit in Istanbul.
The summit’s goals were to strengthen and expand areas of cooperation at all levels and in all fields; create a stable, long-term partnership between Africa and Turkey based on shared interests and equality; and increase the promotion of Africa-Turkey cooperation in targeted areas of mutual interest.
According to the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, “Turkey is a more visible actor in Africa, and Africa has had a unique position in Turkey’s multi-dimensional and proactive foreign policy in the last 15 years”.
“Turkey is seeking to increase its influence in the continent more by using every channel of diplomacy, trade, investment, education, health, security and military cooperation along with soft power tools like culture and history.”
The overall value of Turkey’s commerce with Africa increased from US$3 billion (about R52 billion in today’s value) in 2003 to $26 billion in 2021.
Nearly R175 billion has been invested directly by Turkey in Africa.
Private Turkish enterprises are, likewise, keeping an eye out for commercial and investment prospects in Africa.
In September 2022, Turkey was the single largest contributor at the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo with 25 companies, doubling the space it had in 2018.
Source : News 24