Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, Professor Robert Dussey,
Your Excellency Mr. Joseph Kokou Koffigoh, Former Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic,
Your Excellency, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads and Representatives of diplomatic missions, consular offices and international organizations,
Chairman of the Lomé Diplomatic Club,
Ladies and Gentlemen, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished guests,
It is a great honor and pleasure for me to address you and to present to you more closely Türkiye’s relations with Africa.
Mr. Minister, I would first like to thank you for giving me this opportunity.
In a world undergoing radical change, Türkiye is conducting a foreign policy according to the vision of the “Century of Türkiye” initiated with the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye, not hesitating to take initiatives and, in the words of H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye, “reflects the entrepreneurial spirit and humanitarian values of our nation.”
Turkish foreign policy uses several tools of political, economic, humanitarian and cultural cooperation in a complementary manner and conducts diplomacy that thinks globally but also acts locally in all corners of the world.
With two hundred and sixty-two (262) diplomatic and consular missions in total, Türkiye has the third largest diplomatic network in the world.
🏛️ HISTORY OF TÜRKIYE-AFRICA RELATIONS
The Turkish political presence in Africa and relations with the continent date back more than a thousand years. Since the 9th century, ancient Turkish states initiated political, commercial, cultural and human interactions on the continent and left significant traces there.
During the republican period, efforts were made to maintain ties between Türkiye and Africa. By opening Embassies in Egypt in 1925 and Ethiopia in 1926, the Republic of Türkiye has followed and continues to closely monitor developments on the continent.
The action plan for opening to Africa was developed with the strategy for developing economic relations with African countries prepared in 2003. Türkiye declared 2005 as the “Year of Africa” and obtained observer status with the African Union.
🌍 VISION FOR AFRICA
Türkiye supports an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa led by its own citizens. We share the African Union’s goals of freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued within the framework of pan-Africanism.
We believe that inclusive economic and social development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance, peace and security are the issues that aim to reposition Africa as a geostrategic player on the world stage.
I would like to emphasize that our approach toward African countries is aligned with the founding principles of the African Union, which is based on the “win-win” principle, an equal partnership and mutual respect.
🤝 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
As a strategic partner of the African Union since 2008, we have jointly organized three Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summits, in 2008, 2014 and 2021.
The third partnership summit was held under the theme “Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity,” from December 16 to 18, 2021, in Istanbul. 38 African countries were present, including 16 Heads of State and Government, 100 ministers including 25 Foreign Ministers.
The fourth summit will be organized this year in Libya.
📊 KEY FIGURES
Our President H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made more than 50 visits to 31 African countries, making him the leader who has visited Africa the most among world heads of state.
Today, 44 embassies and 4 consulates general of Türkiye are active in Africa, whereas we only had 12 embassies on the continent in 2002.
Türkiye wishes to accompany African countries in their economic and social development process through joint projects, especially in the areas of infrastructure, agri-food, health and education.
We also contribute to the stability and development of Africa through humanitarian aid, capacity building and social development projects.
Türkiye contributes to the fight against terrorism in regional countries. We have a comprehensive approach to security. If there is no security, there will be no economic development.
💰 TRADE EXCHANGES
The volume of trade with the continent was $5.4 billion in 2003. Trade has reached $40.7 billion at the end of last year.
We want to increase this volume to $50 billion in the coming years. To date, we have business councils with 48 African countries.
Turkish investors are among those who create the most jobs in Africa. In 2014, Türkiye ranked first in terms of job creation in Africa.
The fifth edition of the Türkiye-Africa Economic and Business Forums was organized in cooperation with the African Union on October 16 and 17, 2025 in Istanbul.
🏢 TURKISH INSTITUTIONS IN AFRICA
🔹 TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency): 22 offices on the continent
🔹 Turkish Airlines: 65 destinations in Africa (41 countries)
🔹 Maarif Foundation: Education services in 26 African countries, 534 institutions and more than 75,000 students worldwide
🎓 SCHOLARSHIPS AND EDUCATION
To date, Türkiye has provided more than 15,000 scholarships to African students.
Our country has become one of the most sought-after destinations for studies among young Africans. Currently more than 65,000 students are continuing their higher education in Türkiye.
⚠️ THE SAHEL REGION
Türkiye attaches great importance to its relations with the African continent in general, but we also closely monitor the situation in the Sahel region.
The Sahel region has faced structural challenges related to political, economic, social and security instability for decades. We believe that strengthening regional and international cooperation is essential to ensure stability and security.
Regional states must act with the support of the international community to address the root causes of problems such as: poverty, internal tensions, demographic change, food insecurity, climate change, illegal human trafficking and extremism.
🇹🇬 TÜRKIYE-TOGO RELATIONS
Since the reciprocal establishment of our Embassies in 2021 and 2022, our relations with Togo have developed rapidly.
Togo is the best example of Türkiye’s African approach. We consider Togo as one of our main partners at the political, economic and cultural level in Africa.
The visit of the President of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on October 19, 2021 marked a historic turning point in our bilateral relations.
The President of the Council H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé made a visit to Türkiye for the official inauguration ceremony of H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 3, 2023.
💼 TÜRKIYE-TOGO TRADE EXCHANGES
While the volume of trade between Türkiye and Togo in 2021 had reached $128 million, this volume reached $270 million at the end of last year.
As part of the International History Festival of Aného on November 18, 2024, the First Türkiye-Togo Economic Forum was held where Turkish businessmen and businesswomen met their Togolese partners.
The Maarif International Schools, which have proven themselves for more than four years in Togo, continue their educational activities with more than 600 students from kindergarten to high school, with a 100% baccalaureate pass rate from the first year.
A Turkish Studies and Research Center was opened at the University of Lomé in November 2024 by the Maarif Foundation of Türkiye. Currently 45 students are learning Turkish language and culture there.
Türkiye was chosen in 2024 as the guest country of honor at the International History Festival of Aného, which took place from November 14 to 18, 2024.
I would like to emphasize that Türkiye supports the efforts of African peoples for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.
H.E. Ms. Muteber KILIÇ
Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Togo
Lomé Diplomatic Club, December 11, 2025