Türkiye hosts strategic dialogue with African countries

Türkiye’s National Intelligence Academy has organised a pivotal forum known as the Türkiye-Africa Strategic Dialogue programme, taking place from 9th to 10th February.

The programme in Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, has drawn high-level participants from Türkiye and many African countries, including Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Nigeria, Egypt, Chad, South Africa, Senegal, and the Gambia.

The two-day programme features powerful speakers and panels on defence, security, energy, and communication. In his opening speech, the Director of the MIT Academy, Professor Talha Kose, said the programme will focus on the developments being experienced in Africa today.

Kose highlighted the importance of Africa on the global stage, stressing that the developments in the continent are not about Africa alone, but concern the whole world.

Kose stressed that Türkiye does not see Africa as an ‘’arena of competition, a sphere of influence, or a geography where short-term interests are pursued.’’

Instead, it views African countries as ‘’equal actors’’ sharing common values with Türkiye.

He said Türkiye is focused on building relations on the principle of "African solutions to African problems."

Structured engagement

In his remarks, the Justice Minister of Somalia, Moallim Mahmoud Sheikhali, said this dialogue takes place at a moment when relations between Africa and Türkiye have reached a strategic maturity that calls for deeper and more structured engagement.

He emphasized that the ties between Africa and Türkiye are historic and different from those shaped by former Western colonial powers.

They have been built on mutual respect, mutual benefit, and partnership—rather than domination, exploitation, or imposition.

According to Sheikhali, Türkiye has emerged as a stabilizing partner in the Horn of Africa, particularly through its support to Somalia in tackling terrorism, enhancing maritime security, and addressing transnational crime.

He added that Africa needs peace, stability, and genuine partnerships, adding that for years Türkiye has acted as a “win-win” development partner.