Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed the third Türkiye-Africa Partnership Ministerial Review Conference within the West African nation of Djibouti on Sunday, the second day of his go to to the nation, the place he met counterparts from a number of African international locations.
Fidan stated Ankara was dedicated to deepening relations with Africa, which he known as on to again diplomatic assist for Palestinians.
Türkiye has invested closely throughout Africa lately, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan finishing up 50 visits to 31 international locations throughout his twenty years in energy. Fourteen African international locations attended the most recent ministerial assembly within the tiny Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti this weekend. They included Angola, Chad, Comoros, the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Libya, Mauritania, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Fidan, who presided over the assembly, stated commerce with the continent surpassed $35 billion (TL 1.2 trillion) final yr and Türkiye direct investments now totaled $7 billion. “Türkiye is employing a comprehensive and holistic approach in terms of enhancing our trade and economic partnership with the continent,” Fidan stated in his speech.
In latest months, Türkiye has tried to mediate a feud between Ethiopia and Somalia and struck a mining cope with Niger.
The minister, who prolonged greetings of Erdoğan to the members, stated they witnessed that Africa was getting ready to take a higher position within the twenty first century with its younger and dynamic inhabitants, sources and rising markets. He stated Africa was additionally going through world challenges equivalent to terrorism, inequality, the impression of local weather change and irregular migration. “None of those are bigger than Africa’s accomplishments,” he added, noting that Türkiye was engaged in shut partnership with the African international locations ranging from the early 2000s, primarily based on the precept that African options have been essential to resolve Africa’s issues. Türkiye advocates lowering the affect of European international locations that exploited the sources of Africa in previous centuries.
The prime diplomat famous that Türkiye has been a strategic associate of the African Union since 2008. “We developed our relations with all African countries in a bilateral way, in a structured approach based on needs. We improved our multilateral relations within the African Union. We attach importance to Africa’s stability and take its security concerns seriously,” he stated.
Fidan reiterated that Sudan was now heading into its second yr of a battle, which has had a devastating impression on the nation. “We should not let Sudan be an obscure matter for the international community and should act together for an immediate cease-fire and lasting solution,” he stated.
Fidan said that Türkiye has at all times supported counterterrorism and native and regional initiatives to bolster stability, construct capability and unfold safety throughout the continent.
The minister reiterated assist for the African Union to change into a everlasting member of the G-20 and for reform of the United Nations Security Council. “We should continue our efforts to make the U.N. more relevant and capable of confronting the complex challenges of the century. Security Council reform is critical in this sense,” he stated.
“South Africa’s 2025 term presidency in G-20 is a great opportunity for the continent to voice their priorities in the global agenda,” he stated.
“Türkiye strongly supports Africa for reaching its deserved place in the international system, for its voice to be heard,” he stated, including that the worldwide system in its present type can’t effectively reply to inequality and injustice.
Under the management of President Erdoğan, Türkiye has lengthy defended main reforms within the U.N., particularly the U.N. Security Council beneath its casual marketing campaign with the motto of “The world is bigger than five,” in reference to members of the council.
“Peace, stability and justice are elusive for a big a part of the world. The worldwide system couldn’t cease the continued humanitarian disaster within the Middle East. Israel remains to be committing the crime of genocide in opposition to the folks of Palestine. This limitless assault threatens regional stability and worldwide order in a broader sense. Israel ought to be topic to enforcement measures.
Türkiye, on this context, launched an initiative for an arms embargo on Israel,” he stated.
He known as for higher African involvement within the Israeli-Palestinian battle. “We believe that Africa can play an instrumental role in supporting the Palestinian cause and in stopping Israel,” he stated. “We appreciate the African countries that stand with Palestine,” he added, highlighting South Africa’s latest transfer to file proof of “genocide” dedicated by Israel to the International Criminal Court.
The subsequent Türkiye-Africa Summit is because of be held in 2026. Fidan stated they have been in shut cooperation with related establishments to comprehend a joint motion plan permitted within the third summit held in 2021.
Source: www.dailysabah.com