The Sahel and Africa: Türkiye’s new frontier

By Mary Alorh

The recent coups in the Sahel region have accelerated the expansion of global powers on the African continent. China and Russia are deepening their diplomatic relations through defense and trade initiatives. Russian private military companies (PMCs) are actively involved on the ground, supporting efforts to combat insurgencies while also safeguarding the regimes against opposition forces.

China, as Africa’s largest trading partner, is focused on protecting its interests by providing substantial military equipment to these regimes.

Meanwhile, Türkiye is emerging as a significant player alongside Russia and China. Since 2005, Türkiye’s presence in Africa has evolved from soft power to strategic influence. The number of Turkish embassies on the continent has grown from 12 in the early 2000s to 44, and Turkish Airlines now serves over 60 destinations across Africa. Türkiye is currently the fourth most represented country in Africa, following the United States, China, and France.

In 2022, Türkiye’s trade with Africa reached US$44 billion, with Turkish products and services gaining popularity due to their quality and affordability. This has contributed to Türkiye’s growing influence in African markets.

In Somalia, Türkiye has become a key development partner, especially during the 2011 famine. In Ethiopia, Türkiye is the second largest investor after China. Turkish companies manage crucial infrastructure like the Port of Mogadishu and other economic assets in Somalia.

In 2017, Türkiye established its first and largest military base on the continent, Camp TURKSOM in Mogadishu, to train troops in combating al-Shabab and other terrorist groups. The base also serves as the training ground for the African Eagle program, enhancing Türkiye’s regional and global political influence amidst competition from Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia.

Türkiye’s advancements in defense technology, particularly in drone manufacturing with models like the Akinci, and its expertise in counterterrorism, have made it a global hub in this sector. Through strategic military and defense agreements, Türkiye is strengthening ties with countries in Sub-Saharan and Sahel regions, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda, thereby expanding its influence in West and East Africa.

The increasing fragmentation of global power dynamics has hindered the development of a unified policy on Africa by the European Union (EU), while U.S. efforts have often fallen short. This has allowed Türkiye to seize the opportunity to forge strong partnerships across the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions. Unlike other powers such as Russia and China, Türkiye is viewed as a more benign presence.

Türkiye’s approach to Africa is likely to diverge from that of the West. This was evident in Niger, where, after the EU and the United States suspended aid to the new junta, Türkiye maintained its support for the regime and voiced opposition to ECOWAS’s planned military intervention in the country.

Mary Alorh is Director of Administration at DefSEC Analytics Africa Ltd., and is an expert in Gender, Youth, and Peace & Security initiatives in West Africa.