Experts: Turkey winning hearts, minds in Africa

Although Turkey may be a new entrant to Africa, it is winning hearts and minds in many countries of the continent because of its honest approach based on a spirit of trust, mutual interest and partnership, experts have said and reported. anadolu news agency,

According to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, this week, Istanbul will host the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit from December 17 to 18, which is expected to begin a new phase in Turkey’s relations with the African Union and countries on that continent.

“Turkey is flourishing in Africa because of its honest dealings with the countries of the continent. It has a clear history. Turkey did not colonize Africa,” said author and post-doctoral fellow at the University of Cape Town, Halim Genkoglu. ” anadolu agency,

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He said Turkey’s lack of colonial heritage on the continent has instilled trust between Africans and Turks, making it easier for them to do business.

Genkoग्लूlu also noted that Turkey has more than 40 embassies across the continent and added that it has established several state institutions, distributed humanitarian aid, provided educational scholarships, schools in less than a decade. Has established and supported development projects.

Some of Turkey’s well-known state agencies working on the continent include the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the Yunus Emre Institute, the Maarif Foundation, and the Dinet Foundation.

Mustafa Mehta, a senior research fellow and head of the Africa desk at the Media Review Network, a Johannesburg-based think tank, said he expects the Turkey-Africa partnership summit to be a complete success as Turkey’s vision as an African partner is of great importance. give. in the development of Africa.

“Turkey’s approach to Africa is completely different from the others. It is based on a win-win situation and true partnership,” Mehta told Anadolu Agency.

He said Ankara’s approach was not based on coercion and manipulation, as has been the case with some Western countries, adding that Turkey’s approach was always bound to win.

‘Partner, not owner’

“Africa needs partners, not masters,” Mehta said, adding that Turkey’s non-intervention policy in the internal affairs of African countries was a clear sign of a friend. “It only intervenes when asked.”

Another expert believed that Turkey would continue to gain land on the continent because of its respect for Africa.

“The Ottoman Empire gave the continent an honorable legacy. The Turkish people never called the continent the ‘Dark Continent’, which the Western world did,” explained Safiye Yldiz, a Turkish doctoral student at the University of Cape Town. anadolu agency,

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Yildiz said that, while colonists in Africa were separating churches for white and black people, the Ottomans sent Turkish scholars to South Africa to teach without segregating people based on the color of their skin.

He said that the history of the Turks made them friends with Africans. “Unfortunately, the West still regards Africa as an uncivilized, undeveloped land. Now, they call the Omicron version the South African version, which is not true at all. Scholars accept that the South African government officially Omicron already existed in Europe. Declared it. It is not fair to close the borders of South Africa,” he argued.

Turkey-Africa Summit

Turkey’s envoy to Rwanda, Burku Sevi, told Anadolu Agency that the partnership summit between Turkey and Africa played an important role in evaluating progress in existing areas of cooperation and establishing a roadmap for furthering cooperation in potential new areas. played.

“Increased dialogue between Turkish and African leaders at the highest level, undoubtedly, paves the way for greater cooperation in trade and investment,” Sevic said in a virtual interview.

He said Turkey’s approach to Africa has always been honest and based on a spirit of mutual interest and partnership.

“Africa has a great potential and dynamism of its own, and Turkey is pleased to cooperate with Africa in the continent’s transformation process towards ensuring a better life for its people,” Sevic said.

The diplomat also noted that the volume of trade between Turkey and Rwanda was increasing every year.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s envoy to Kenya, Ahmet Semil Miroglu, told the Anadolu Agency that his country’s vision for Africa was based on a transparent and long-term strategic partnership, which fully aligns with the founding principles of the African Union.

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“Turkey will continue to stand in solidarity with African countries and the African Union,” the diplomat said, noting that Turkey and Kenya are working hard to take their economic cooperation to a new level.

“We encourage Turkish business circles to invest in Kenya and pursue business relations on a ‘win-win’ basis,” he said.