December 21, 2011

Turkey makes inroads into Africa

Menekse Tokyay

As part of Turkey's opening to Africa, on Friday (December 16th) the ministers of 54 countries of the African Union and representatives of African institutions concluded the first Ministerial Review Conference of the Africa-Turkey Partnership to improve ties between the continent and Turkey, following a similar summit in 2008.

Turkey, Africa
Turkey's budding relationship with Africa helped it win
a seat in the UN Security Council in 2009-14 and
may yet secure it another in its 2015-16 bid. [Reuters]
Having gained observer status in the African Union in 2005, Turkey has been acting as a voice for Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) at international platforms such as the G20 and Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).