Turkish-Somali Relations: Changing State Identity and Foreign Policy

Abstract

This article will examine the driving dynamics behind the increasing relations between Turkey and Somalia. Turkey has been an important actor on the African politics since the AK Party (Justice and Development Party) came to power in 2002. For instance, while Turkey only had 12 embassies across the continent until 2005, it currently has 35. Turkey is today among the countries in the world having one of the most diplomatic missions on the African continent. Turkey's economic relations with the continent have also changed significantly. Whereas Turkey's total trade with Africa was 2 billion dollars in 2005, it is presently about 22 billion dollars. Importantly, Turkey is aiming to increase her total trade with Africa up to 50 billion dollars until 2020. Furthermore, Turkish NGOs are actively involved in many humanitarian projects in the different African countries. Turkey has particularly paid a great deal of attention to increasing political, economic and social relations with Somalia during the AK Party government. This article argues that the AK Party has been establishing a new foreign policy identity and transforming the parameters of the traditional Turkish foreign policy through the social interactions with Somalia.

Turkey’s Engagement with the African Organisations: Partner or Competitor?

“…Turkey has spent over 500 million U.S. dollars to reconstruct Somalia since 2011. Turkey built a 200-bed hospital in Mogadishu in January 2015, one of the largest and the most modern hospitals in East Africa in which almost 20,000 Somalis get free healthcare services every month (Sıradağ, 2016, pp. 92–98).…”

“…Thousands of tons of food aid has been provided to the needy people in the country since 2011. Furthermore, the garbage on the streets was collected, and roads were built in Mogadishu (Sıradağ, 2016). Medical doctors have been sent to the country to train the Somali doctors.…”

“…Medical doctors have been sent to the country to train the Somali doctors. Turkey has provided scholarship to hundreds of Somalia students to study in Turkey (Sıradağ, 2016). Besides, the Turkish NGOs, in cooperation with the state institutions, have implemented a number of significant projects aiming to strengthen the small and medium-sized companies in Somalia (Sıradağ, 2016).…”

Turkey and South Africa: A Relationship of Regional Powers

“…Subsequently, South Africa’s National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) placed Turkey on a “Red List,” which in effect imposed a blanket embargo on further arms sales to that country considering not only its human rights record but also what it perceived as maintaining a balance of military power in the Middle East region. The chair of NCAAC, Kadar Asmal, in an impromptu interview in 1997 with South Africa’s Sunday Independent newspaper cited Turkey’s 1974 invasion and continued occupation of northern Cyprus as another factor for the NCAAC’s decision (Sıradağ, 2017, pp. 17–18).…”

“…In addition, there was a change in emphasis on the priorities of the South African government of Thabo Mbeki who succeeded Mandela as president in 1999. While Mandela during his time in office focused on domestic issues and problems affecting the African continent, Mbeki developed “a more dynamic and active foreign policy for South Africa … [trying to make] the country a global player on the international stage” (Sıradağ, 2017, p. 21). This foreign policy orientation has continued under Mbeki’s successors Jacob Zuma (2009–2018) and current President Cyril Ramaphosa.…”