Erdoğan wins again with Senegal deal
Türkiye’s plan to be seen as Africa’s partner rather than yet another coloniser appears to be working
Kiri Rupiah
As the West’s influence on the continent has faded, Russia and China’s reach has come into focus. Türkiye, however, has been quietly positioning itself as the alternative choice – and its strategies of soft and hard power are paying dividends.
The latest big win for Ankara has been an oil and gas deal signed between Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Senegal is one of the world’s newest oil producers.
Ankara’s “energy diplomacy” has led to energy and mining deals with Niger, Egypt, Somalia, Morocco and Algeria. Türkiye is a net importer of oil and gas, spending around $40-billion each year for both. While the invasion of Ukraine caused some European countries to stop buying oil and gas from Russia, Türkiye continues to buy both commodities from there. This agreement with Senegal could go a long way in tempering this dependency on Russian oil and gas.
Meanwhile, in exchange for shoring up Somalia’s maritime defence, Turkish seismic vessels will trawl for oil and gas off the east African country’s coast. And, The Continent reported, Turkish drones were instrumental in helping the Ethiopian government in the war in Tigray. Türkiye also has a military presence in Libya.
Since launching its “Year of Africa” agenda in 2005, Erdoğan has worked hard to ensure his country is received as Africa’s reliable partner rather than yet another coloniser. Armed with cultural and diplomatic programmes, scholarships, weapons and business deals, Türkiye is now a major player.