Beyond Diplomacy: Türkiye’s Economic Footprint in Africa

by Martin Aslan

Over the past two decades, Türkiye has undergone a significant transformation in its foreign policy, with the African continent emerging as a key strategic focus. Driven by a mix of economic ambition, diplomatic outreach, and geopolitical recalibration, Türkiye has steadily expanded its presence across Africa. This shift, which accelerated after Reçep Tayyip Erdoğan came to power in 2003, is reflected in the rapid increase in Turkish embassies, investment flows, and trade partnerships on the continent. While officials emphasize a “win-win” model of cooperation, critics argue that Türkiye’s engagement is guided more by resource acquisition and market access than by mutual development goals. Let’s not forget that Africa is a continent rich in natural resources, while Türkiye has very few (see the article “Africa, a continent with growing appeal”: https://turkishpulse.blogspot.com/2023/10/africa-continent-with-growing-appeal.html).

This article examines the development of Türkiye-Africa relations, highlighting trade agreements, commercial interactions, key investment areas, and the wider impacts of this expanding partnership.

Trade Agreements: Building the Economic Framework

Trade agreements between Türkiye and African countries help make trade easier by improving logistics and simplifying customs procedures. These deals allow Turkish companies to enter fast-growing African markets, while African countries benefit by attracting investment, creating jobs, and boosting economic development.

At the 3rd Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum, President Erdoğan encouraged African countries to use their local currencies in trade with Türkiye, instead of relying on the U.S. dollar. Türkiye also supports the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to make trade between African countries smoother. By working together, both Türkiye and Africa hope to build stronger, fairer economic partnerships.

Rapid Growth in Bilateral Trade

Over the past 20 years, trade between Africa and Türkiye has grown significantly, increasing eight times from $5.4 billion in 2003 to $40.7 billion in 2023. While Türkiye faces a $7.5 billion trade deficit with the rest of the world, it has a trade surplus with African countries. In 2024, Türkiye exported $19.4 billion worth of products to Africa, making up 7.4% of African imports.

Egypt is Türkiye’s largest trading partner in Africa (The normalization of relations between the two countries after several years of diplomatic tensions sparked by Ankara's support for the Muslim Brotherhood was behind a 21.8% rise in these exports.),1 with $3.5 billion in trade, followed by Morocco ($3.1 billion) and Libya ($2.5 billion). Türkiye exports a wide range of products to Africa, including food, technology, automobiles, and defense equipment. Turkish imports from Africa, mainly energy resources like oil and gas, as well as metals like gold, iron, and copper, are valued at over $10 billion, or 2.7% of Africa’s total exports (Algerian oil tops the list of exports to Turkey).

Strategic Sectors of Turkish Investment

Turkish investment in Africa is dominated by two sectors: construction and hydrocarbons.

Construction projects carried out by Turkish companies in Africa represent 17.8% of the market on the continent. Around 2,000 infrastructure projects have been completed or are ongoing, with a cumulative value of $91 billion. Today, Türkiye rivals the United States and China in this field.

In the rail sector, Uganda has entrusted Yapi Merkezi with the construction of a 273 km stretch of railway between the Malaba border post and Kampala in Kenya. The railroad was originally to be built by China Harbour Engineering Company. After eight years of stagnation, Uganda chose the Turkish company Yapi Merkezi to take over and complete the project (www.ugstandard.com). Other projects are underway in Tanzania and Ethiopia. However, Yapi Merkezi is under investigation in both countries for bribery and breach of contract.(https://railbus.com.ng//www.thereporterethiopia.com).

In the energy sector, the withdrawal of some international companies due to political instability in certain African countries has created opportunities for Turkish investors. Faced with civil war in Somalia, multinationals such as Chevron, ENI, ExxonMobil, and Shell have decided not to pursue their exploration campaigns in the country. To guarantee the security of its energy supplies, Ankara is strengthening its partnerships with countries such as Somalia and Niger. Geological and seismic studies have estimated reserves in Somali waters at over 30 billion barrels. Following an agreement signed in March 2024 between Türkiye and Somalia, a second oil and gas exploration campaign began in 2025. In line with this, another agreement was signed with Senegal for oil and gas exploration in October 2024.

Rhetoric vs. Reality: Is It Truly a Win-Win Relationship?

Although Türkiye promotes its engagement with Africa as a balanced, mutually beneficial partnership, the reality suggests a more uneven dynamic. Trade and investment have grown rapidly, but many of the benefits appear to favor Türkiye. Türkiye exports higher-value goods, such as machinery, vehicles, and defense equipment, while importing mainly raw materials like oil, gas, and metals. This reinforces a traditional pattern where African economies supply resources but remain on the lower end of the value chain. Türkiye’s consistent trade surplus with the continent underscores this imbalance.

Türkiye’s pursuit of African energy and mineral resources has drawn criticism, with some likening its approach to that of other major powers. Deals in countries like Somalia and Niger are often opaque, raising questions about who truly benefits. While infrastructure and energy partnerships are growing, they tend to prioritize Türkiye’s strategic interests over local development.

Despite rising investment, Türkiye’s involvement has not driven deep structural changes in African economies. Turkish firms often use their own materials and labor, limiting job creation and skills transfer. Infrastructure projects, though valuable, are typically turnkey operations with minimal local participation, weakening long-term benefits for host countries.

Conclusion: A Strategic Partnership or a Missed Opportunity?

Türkiye’s strategy in Africa is not driven by philanthropy but by a clear, calculated goal to secure natural resources, expand markets, and strengthen its geopolitical influence. While Türkiye talks about a "win-win" partnership, the actual results have not yet been equally beneficial for both sides.

The trade imbalance is clear: Türkiye exports valuable manufactured goods while importing mostly raw materials from Africa, which does little to help Africa build its own industries. Although Turkish investments in construction and energy have helped develop infrastructure, many of these projects benefit Turkish companies first, with limited impact on local jobs or long-term growth. This suggests that Africa’s role remains more focused on resource extraction than on meaningful economic transformation.

For many African countries, Türkiye offers a new partner beyond traditional global powers. However, unless future cooperation focuses more on transparency, fairness, and long-term development, Türkiye may end up reinforcing the same imbalances it seeks to avoid. In the end, while Türkiye has made significant progress in Africa, the promised changes for the continent and its people have not yet fully materialized.