Erdogan sets out to conquer Africa
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. © Reuters

Running story
Erdogan sets out to conquer Africa

Keen to reassert Turkey's international status, and also to help Turkish companies to break into the African market, the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been spearheading a major diplomatic and business drive in Africa. To achieve its goals, the Turkish government is counting on the assistance of its religious networks.

Erdogan sets out to conquer Africa
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. © Reuters

Nigeria
Turkish defence groups go on offensive in Abuja

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is continuing to try to persuade the Nigerian high command to place an order for more attack helicopters, while, in its wake, electronics group Havelsan is hoping to win orders on its own account.

A T-129 ATAK developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, in Ankara, Turkey.
LogoSubscribers only Defence 24.10.2023
A T-129 ATAK developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, in Ankara, Turkey.

Egypt
Gamal Metwally set to be appointed Ankara ambassador

After a decade of estrangement, Egypt and Turkey look set to reopen their diplomatic channels. Gamal Metwally, a former Egyptian ambassador to Malaysia, is expected to be posted to Ankara, a key position in the implementation of Sisi's foreign policy.

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Inner circles | Guinea
Albayrak leads Erdogan's economic and diplomatic drive in Conakry

All-powerful under Alpha Condé, the Turkish group Albayrak is continuing to hold its own under the junta despite some tensions. Several figures are keeping the dialogue going between Mamadi Doumbouya and the conglomerate, which has very close ties to the Turkish president.

LogoSubscribers only Politics, Business, Diplomacy 26.05.2023

DRC
Turkey's cash-strapped Katmerciler struggles to deliver on armoured vehicle order

The Congolese government is still waiting on a delivery of armoured vehicles from Turkish group Katmerciler to ease pressure on the army, which is in need of equipment in its fight against the M23 rebels in the east of the country.

LogoSubscribers only Defence 17.01.2023

DRC, Rwanda
Turkish group TAI touts its combat drones to both Kinshasa and Kigali

The flagship Turkish defence company Turkish Aerospace Industries is leading a spirited commercial offensive in Central Africa against the backdrop of high tension between DRC and Rwanda.

LogoSubscribers only Defence 09.01.2023

West Africa
Border protection: Turkish military company Sadat's discreet charm offensive

CEO Melih Tanriverdi has sent his teams to court West Africa's armed forces in the hopes of selling them Sadat's integrated border surveillance system for use in the conflict-prone Sahel region.

LogoSubscribers only Defence 01.11.2022

Tunisia
Turkish defence firms soar at Enfidha air show

Shunned by Western firms, the second International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (IADE), which took place at Enfidha airport, was mainly a showcase for Turkish defence companies.

LogoSubscribers only Defence 19.10.2022

South Africa
AAD arms expo dominated by Turkish, Chinese and Russian suppliers

The 2022 Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD) expo, slated for 21-25 September at Waterkloof airbase on the outskirts of Pretoria, will host a strong showing of Turkish firms.

LogoSubscribers only Defence 16.09.2022

Libya
Erdogan caught in the crossfire of Tripoli clashes

The renewed fighting between Abdelhamid Dabaiba and Fathi Bachagha's respective camps on 27 and 28 August in Tripoli showed the limits of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's balancing act. The Turkish president has been trying to mediate between the sparring factions while looking after his own troops on the ground.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Spotlight | Libya
Erdogan pushing to regain upper hand on Libyan crisis

The Turkish president wants to host a meeting between the speaker of the Libyan House Of Representatives, Aguila Salah Issa, and the chairman of the High Council of State, Khaled al-Mishri, along with representatives of the main countries involved in the crisis on 21 July.

Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 13.07.2022
Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

DRC
Turkish paramilitary firm Sadat goes on charm offensive in Kinshasa

The private company is taking an interest in the DR Congo's security market, lured by opportunities to train its armed forces and police and by the country's need for military equipment.

LogoSubscribers only Defence 07.07.2022

East Africa, Turkey
Erdogan dispatches diplomats to Addis Ababa ahead of high-profile visit

Turkish diplomacy continues to send its officials to Ethiopia to intensify its involvement in a region where Western countries are failing to address the crises.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Free access Diplomacy 21.06.2022
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Kenya
Turkey's Atesci to build ammunition factory for Kenyan army

Turkish company Atesci has won a major contract in Nairobi to install ammunition production lines for the Kenya Army

LogoSubscribers only Defence, Business 17.06.2022

Africa, Guinea
Turkish billionaire Calik's company sets sights on African mines beyond Guinea and DRC

The holding company of Turkish businessman Ahmet Calik, who is said to be close to President Erdogan, is trying to obtain permits in other countries on the continent, having entered the mining sector in Africa via the exploration activities of his company Lidya Madencilik in Guinea and DRC.

LogoSubscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 31.05.2022

Inner circles | Africa, Turkey
Turkish foreign minister Cavusoglu builds his Africa dream team

To further extend Ankara's influence on the African continent, Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has made a number of important changes within the ministry in recent months.

Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 27.05.2022
Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu.

Nigeria
Nigeria to purchase ten armed mini-drones from Turkey's Asisguard

Still engaged in discussions with Turkish manufacturer Baykar Makina, producer of TB2 MALE (medium altitude long endurance) combat drones, the Nigerian government has just finalised the order for a batch consisting of ten small armed tactical Songar UAVs from Nigerian group Asisguard.

LogoSubscribers only Defence, Business 13.05.2022

Spotlight | Libya
Erdogan pushes for a negotiated solution between Bashagha and Dabaiba

Turkey, which last week played host to representatives of the Libyan prime minister-designate Fathi Bashagha, intends to wield its influence on the outgoing head of government Abdelhamid Dabaiba to pressure him to seek a negotiated solution.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Libyan PM-designate Fathi Bashagha.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Libyan PM-designate Fathi Bashagha.

Gambia, Senegal
Ankara trapped between its two West African allies over Casamance

Senegal's military operation against separatist bases in northern Casamance over the past two weeks relies heavily on Turkish expertise. But Ankara is also a close ally of Gambia, which has historic ties to the Casamance rebels and has been deeply affected by the crisis.

LogoSubscribers only Defence, Politics 28.03.2022

Spotlight | Rwanda
Qatar Airways' $2bn for Kigali airport build lures Turkish and Qatari groups alike

The airline's huge investment in the construction of the future Kigali airport, the largest ever made by Qatar in Africa, is turning heads in Istanbul. Qatar Airways has launched a call for tenders for which it should announce the winner within a few weeks.

The Kigali (Rwanda) airport project was initially awarded to Mota-Engil in 2016.
Free access Infrastructure, Business 24.03.2022
The Kigali (Rwanda) airport project was initially awarded to Mota-Engil in 2016.

Senegal
Turkey key ally in Casamance military operations

The large-scale military operations carried out over the past two weeks by Senegalese soldiers on the Gambian border against the MFDC separatists have benefited from the strategic alliance between Turkey and Senegal.

LogoSubscribers only Defence, Politics 24.03.2022

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Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Running story
Erdogan sets out to conquer Africa


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