The Rise of Turkey as a Non-Traditional Aid Donor in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

 

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine Turkey’s engagement with Sub-Saharan African countries in the last decade and elaborate Turkey’s distinctive approach as a donor country. Sub-Saharan Africa was one of the neglected areas of Turkish foreign policy until the AKP era. Turkey's Africa policy gained momentum with the declaration of Year of Africa in 2005. In addition to increase of high-level bilateral visits, Turkey expanded its diplomatic representations in this region. Turkey's opening to Sub-Saharan Africa took place at the time of a new scramble for Africa. Southern powers such as China, Brazil, India started to compete with the former colonial powers from Europe for resources of African countries. Turkey used its non-colonial history as an asset and adopted a partnership approach in its relations with Sub-Saharan African countries. Consequently, Turkey acted as a benevolent donor and achieved hundreds of  projects and improved African people  life in the different parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Tukey, Non-Traditional Aid Donor, Sub-Saharan Africa

* Dr., Selçuk Universitesi, Uluslararası İlişkiler Bölümü