In order to assess the current stage of our relations with African countries and to identify additional ways and means to further advance them, the First Türkiye–Africa Cooperation Summit was held in Istanbul on 18–21 August 2008 with the participation of 49 African countries and representatives of 11 international and regional organizations, including the African Union. The “Istanbul Declaration on Türkiye–Africa Cooperation: Partnership and Solidarity for a Common Future” and the “Framework for Cooperation for Türkiye–Africa Partnership” adopted at the Summit provided a sustainable structure for Türkiye–Africa relations.
In recent years, Türkiye’s relations with Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have gained remarkable momentum. Initiated in 1998, accelerated by Türkiye’s observer membership to the African Union in 2005, and reinforced when Türkiye was declared a strategic partner of the African Union in 2008, the multi-dimensional Opening to Africa Policy achieved significant progress in political, economic, cultural, security, and development fields. This policy was successfully completed and was replaced in 2013 by the Africa Partnership Policy.
Economic ties have expanded rapidly over the last two decades. The Türkiye–Africa trade volume rose from USD 5.4 billion in 2003 to USD 40.7 billion by the end of 2022. In 2024, the trade volume stood at around USD 36.5 billion, with exports amounting to USD 21.8 billion and imports to USD 15 billion. Key partners on the continent include Egypt, Algeria, Libya, South Africa, and Nigeria. As of today, Türkiye has Free Trade Agreements in force with Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritius. The FTA with Sudan is expected to enter into force following the completion of internal ratification procedures, while negotiations with Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Libya are ongoing.
The backbone of Türkiye’s steadily growing bilateral relations with African countries since 2003 has been the Strategy for the Development of Commercial and Economic Relations with Africa. This Strategy was updated at the Second Türkiye–Africa Partnership Summit in Malabo in 2014 to reflect the continent’s evolving needs. At the Third Summit held in Istanbul in 2021, the 2022–2026 Joint Action Plan was adopted. The main objectives of the Strategy are to increase Türkiye’s direct investments in Africa, create more job opportunities, and foster a conducive environment for the continent’s economic development.
As of today, Türkiye’s direct investment stock in Africa has exceeded USD 10 billion. Turkish contractors have undertaken more than 2,000 projects across the continent, with a total value approaching USD 97 billion. Türkiye’s diplomatic presence in Africa has grown from 12 embassies in 2002 to 44 embassies today. Turkish Airlines currently operates flights to 51 destinations in 39 African countries. In addition, institutions such as TİKA, the Maarif Foundation, and the Yunus Emre Institute are actively engaged across the continent in education, cultural exchange, and development cooperation.
The foundation of Türkiye’s Africa vision is based on the principles of equal partnership, mutual benefit, and sustainable development. The 5th Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF 2025) to be held in Istanbul in October 2025 will provide a critical platform to advance trade, investment, and development dimensions of our partnership. Furthermore, the 4th Türkiye–Africa Partnership Summit, to be convened in Africa in 2026, is expected to raise the trade volume beyond USD 45 billion, finalize new Free Trade Agreements, and establish a broader and more inclusive basis for economic cooperation across the continent.
| Category | Current Status (2025) | Explanation / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish Embassies in Africa | 44 Embassies (7 more planned) | Increased from 12 in 2002 to 44 today, reflecting Türkiye’s expanding diplomatic network. |
| African Embassies in Ankara | 38 Embassies | Only 10 in 2008; today 38 African countries have embassies in Ankara. |
| Maarif Foundation Schools (TMV) | 201 schools, 18 dormitories in 26 countries, 20,000+ students | Türkiye’s largest education network in Africa; strong institutional presence across the continent. |
| TİKA Coordination Offices | 22 Offices (in Africa) | Implementing development cooperation projects in education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure. |
| Yunus Emre Cultural Centers | 8 Centers (in Africa) | Promote Turkish language, culture, and arts through language courses and cultural events. |
| Commercial Counsellor Offices | 31 Offices | Plus a Trade Attaché Office in Alexandria and a Trade Office in Casablanca. |
| Military Attaché Offices | 25 Countries | Facilitate defense cooperation and military diplomacy. |
| Turkish Airlines Flights | 56 destinations in 39 countries | THY has the largest flight network in Africa; also operates cargo flights to 14 points. |
| DEİK / Türkiye–Africa Business Councils | 48 Councils | Engaging with 54 counterpart organizations to boost trade and investment ties. |
High-level reciprocal visits play a strategic role in the success and continuity of Türkiye’s Africa Partnership Policy. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, including his tenure as Prime Minister, has so far paid 53 official visits to 31 African countries, making him the world leader who has visited the African continent the most extensively.
The countries visited (alphabetically) include: Algeria, Angola, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Türkiye’s total trade volume with the African continent has increased steadily from USD 5.4 billion in 2003 to over USD 40 billion today. This remarkable growth stands as a clear indicator of the strong momentum achieved in Türkiye–Africa economic relations in recent years.
The total value of projects undertaken by Turkish contracting companies in Africa has reached nearly USD 100 billion. These projects, implemented across the continent in infrastructure, energy, transportation, and housing, have made significant contributions to Africa’s development process.
Turkish direct investments in Africa, which stood at only USD 100 million in 2003, have now exceeded USD 10 billion. Turkish companies are active in a wide range of sectors including industry, banking, logistics, food, energy, and construction, making tangible contributions to the continent’s growth potential.
According to international reports, Turkish investments are among the top foreign investments generating employment in Africa. A report published in 2014 highlighted that Turkish investments had created over 16,000 jobs, and this impact has grown even further in recent years.
Türkiye became a member of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 2013. This membership has enabled Turkish companies and individuals to participate in tenders financed by the AfDB, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund.
Türkiye continues to focus on improving transport links with African countries, facilitating contacts between business communities, and strengthening people-to-people connections. In this regard, Turkish Airlines has steadily expanded its African network, currently operating flights to 56 destinations in 39 African countries. With this growing network, Türkiye has become a key hub for Africa’s connectivity with the rest of the world. The increase in air connectivity has also led to a sharp rise in the number of African visitors to Türkiye.
In the diplomatic field, since 1992 more than 200 African diplomats have participated in the International Young Diplomats Training Program organized by the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye. In addition, short-term training programs have been provided for diplomats from many African countries, including Somalia (and Somaliland), Madagascar, Lesotho, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, and Namibia.
Türkiye also attaches importance to contributing to peace and stability in Africa. In this context, Türkiye has provided personnel support, mainly police and gendarmerie officers, to a number of ongoing UN missions in Africa. These include MONUSCO (DRC), UNMISS (South Sudan), MINUSMA (Mali), MINUSCA (Central African Republic), and in previous years UNAMID (Darfur).
As one of the leading humanitarian donor countries, Türkiye acts with full awareness of its global responsibilities, particularly in the areas of food security, combating hunger, sustainable environment, education, and health. Türkiye adopts an integrated approach to humanitarian and development assistance, ensuring that emergency relief efforts and long-term development projects complement each other.
The health sector has recently become one of the most prominent areas of Türkiye’s humanitarian and development assistance to Africa. Türkiye currently has bilateral health cooperation agreements with more than 20 African countries, covering areas such as infrastructure, training, equipment support, and joint health projects.
Ministry of Trade – Target and Priority Countries for 2024–2025 (Africa):
Target Countries: Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Libya, Egypt, Algeria
Priority Countries: Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Morocco, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Within the framework of the Medium-Term Program (2025–2027), increasing Türkiye’s exports and diversifying target markets are among the main priorities. In this context, African countries are included in the target and priority country lists announced by the Ministry of Trade. The Ministry of Trade is designated as the responsible institution for the implementation of this strategy.
“Increasing Türkiye’s exports to Africa will be addressed through a comprehensive approach, identifying products and sectors where Türkiye has strong competitiveness, and engaging the business community, diplomacy, and financial institutions in the process.”