Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to travel to Djibouti next week for a high-level Turkey-Africa ministerial meeting, aiming to strengthen partnerships between Ankara and African nations, according to officials from Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting, scheduled for November 2-3, will bring together representatives from 14 African nations to discuss expanding diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation.
In recent years, Turkey, a NATO member, has significantly expanded its presence in Africa, boosting trade by nearly eight times, providing military support, and signing a range of agreements across various sectors. The upcoming conference in Djibouti will assess the outcomes of a similar meeting held in 2021 and explore new opportunities to deepen Turkey-Africa relations, according to officials who spoke anonymously.
The talks come as Turkey mediates a complex dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia over Ethiopia’s leasing of a coastal area from Somaliland. Ankara is also working to address escalating terrorism challenges in West Africa. The officials acknowledge the mediation efforts are challenging, with a lack of trust complicating discussions, but they expressed hope for positive developments soon.
On the economic front, Turkey recently signed a cooperation agreement with Niger on mining, following a July agreement on oil and gas. Turkey’s Mineral Research and Exploration authority is set to begin production in three gold mining sites in Niger by year-end, with security provided by Nigerien forces.
Amid competition from other global powers like France, Russia, and China, Turkey has become a valuable security ally for several African nations, providing defense equipment and training aimed at boosting national security capabilities. Turkish drones, in particular, have proven instrumental in enhancing ground control for nations like Burkina Faso, where officials report a substantial increase in territorial control.
Recently, however, Tuareg rebels in Mali reported a Turkish drone strike that resulted in eight deaths and 20 injuries, underscoring the complex and often contentious role Turkey’s military support plays in African conflicts.
