President Turkiye sees Africa as a continent of “equal partners” rather than a competitive region or short-term geopolitical rivalry, Talha Kose, head of the country’s National Intelligence Academy, said on Monday.
Speaking at the opening of the Turkiye Africa Strategic Dialogue conference hosted by the academy in Ankara, Kose said that Western-centered academic and political approaches have long framed Africa through an Orientalist lens, overlooking the continent’s historical agency and capacity for self-transformation. He argued that modernization theory and liberal pacifism are often applied as universal models, ignoring Africa’s social and political realities.
“Today, we better understand how important it is to listen to African voices through Africans’ own voices and experiences,” Kose said.
Highlighting Africa’s young population, strategic location along global trade and energy routes, natural resources and growing production capacity, Mr Kose said the continent’s development now impacts not only Africa, but the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the wider world. He noted that major countries around the world, including the United States, China, Russia, and European countries, have all updated their African strategies.
“Mr. Turkiye’s view of Africa is shaped by this broader strategic outlook,” he said.
Mr. Kose emphasized that Turkiye’s Africa policy is based on four pillars: respect for sovereignty, humanitarian responsibility and integrity, win-win cooperation, and long-term sustainable partnership. He added that the Turkish government supports “African solutions to African problems” and seeks stable and integrated partners across the continent.
Köce said this approach has been pursued consistently since Turkiye launched the Africa Initiative in 2005, citing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s long-standing relationship with African leaders as evidence of this.
Also speaking at the event was Somalia’s Minister of Justice and Constitution Hassan Moirin Mohamud Sheikari, who described Turkiye as a reliable stabilization partner in the Horn of Africa.
“Turkiye has consistently respected Africa’s unity and contributed to stability, even as some external actors undermined sovereignty and fuel divisions,” Sheikari said.
He stressed that Africa is a young and dynamic continent with demographic momentum, abundant natural resources and strong economic potential, as well as a geopolitically important position.
Prime Minister Sheihari described the gathering as a valuable platform and said Turkiye and African countries aim to further deepen relations based on mutual respect, common interests and collective responsibility.
The two-day program brought together experts, academics and senior officials from Turkiye and across Africa to examine strategic aspects of Turkiye-Africa relations, with discussions focusing on regional security challenges, defense industry cooperation and the future of strategic partnerships. High-level participants from Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Nigeria, Egypt, Chad, South Africa, Senegal and Gambia attended.
