I. INTRODUCTION
The African Union-Turkey strategic partnership was formalized in the 2008 Istanbul Summit, during which two outcome documents were adopted, namely the Istanbul Declaration and the Framework for Cooperation. The second Africa-Turkey Summit took place in November 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The Summit adopted the Malabo Declaration, the Africa-Turkey Joint Implementation Plan and the Matrix of the Key Priority Projects covering Trade and Investment, Peace and Security, Culture, Tourism and Education, Youth Empowerment and Technology Transfer, Rural Economy and Agriculture, Infrastructure: Energy, ICT and Transport as well as other topics such as health and media .
The Joint Implementation Plan and the Matrix of Key Priority Projects constitute a Road Map to enhance the cooperation between Turkey and the African Union. This report highlights the review and the activities that took place during the period from the Malabo 2014 Summit to date. It is written with the understanding that African Union -Turkey –cooperation extends to what is being done with the African Union at a multilateral level and with individual African countries at the bilateral level.
It should also be underlined that 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the formalization of the African Union -Turkey Partnership.
The following provide up to date account of the implementation of the Action Plan 2015-2019, and presented in two segments that capture activities executed under the multilateral platform and bilateral platform:
II. REVIEW OF THE AFRICAN UNION-TURKEY PARTNERSHIP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2015-2019
MULTILATERAL PLATFORM
1. Annual Budget support to AU Commission
The Government of Turkey has been providing on an annual basis since 2009 a financial contribution to the budget of African Union up to the tune of 1 million US Dollars per year.
2. Institutional Cooperation
2.1. Cooperation within International Organizations
- G20 Presidency: Turkey assumed the G20 Presidency in 2015 and highlighted the needs of LDCs and developing countries within the G20 platform. During its Presidency, Turkey worked to prioritize the interests of states not included in direct G20 membership, especially low income and least developed countries, including those in Africa. Moreover, a G20 Energy Access Action Plan was adopted with a special focus on Africa, as a voluntary collaboration mechanism for G20 members, which was prepared in cooperation with 15 international organizations including the African Development Bank and African Union, at the end of the G20 Energy Ministers Meeting held on 1 October 2015 in Istanbul.
- High Level Conference on Energy Access in Africa: During its G-20 chairmanship, Turkey organized events in line with the goals of the “Agenda 2063”. In this regard, before the G-20 Energy Ministers Meeting held in Istanbul on 2 October 2015, a High Level Conference on Energy Access in Africa was organized on 1 October 2015. The Conference hosted nearly 400 participants, gathered Energy Ministers of G20 and Africa countries, representatives of regional energy institutions, private sector members doing business in Africa and institutional investors.
- Organization of Islamic Countries: Turkey actively supported various initiatives within the OIC, with respect to African countries. Turkey took an active role at OIC Contact Group meetings on Mali and Somalia. As the Summit Chair of the OIC, Turkey has also taken the initiative to organize an OIC fact finding mission to the drought-ridden countries of the region between 11 and 17 June 2017. The Report of this Mission was circulated by the OIC Secretariat to the member states to raise the awareness and support these countries. Turkey was also the penholder of the OIC resolution on this issue adopted at the OIC Foreign Ministers’ Council in Abidjan in July 2017.
2.2. Consultations on Political Matters
- The 6th and 7th Senior Officials Meeting: The 6th and 7th Senior Officials Meeting between the African Union and Turkey took place in Ankara, Turkey, in March 2015 and in Addis Ababa in June 2017, respectively to review the state of play with respect to the African Union – Turkey Partnership and to discuss the financing mechanism of the six pillars in the Matrix of Key Priority Projects.
- High Level Visits: With a view to further developing institutional relations with the African Union, Turkish Prime Minister H.E. Binali Yıldırım extended an invitation to the President of the African Union Commission H.E. Faki Mahamat to visit Turkey in 2018 to discuss Flagships projects of common interest on the basis of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the AU Agenda 2063.
2.3. Inter Parliamentary Relations
- Friendship Groups: The Turkish side has established Friends Groups within the Turkish Grand National Assembly with 35 African countries.
2.4. Cooperation with Regional Economic Communities and Civil Society
- Turkey financially supports AUC in its efforts on Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT), and Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and Priority Action Plan (PAP). Turkey will also organize Economy and Business Forum with ECOWAS on 22-23 February 2018, in Istanbul.
3. Trade and Investment
- The Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum: The First Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 2-3 November 2016. The Forum was jointly organized by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Turkey, the African Union Commission (AUC), the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM).
At the Forum, the parties decided to organize the event biennially, and to establish a “Joint Secretariat” for coordination of bilateral economic and trade related issues. The following decisions came out of the Forum:
- DEIK proposed to sign a MoU on cooperation with the African Union Commission. Currently Turkish Ministry of Economy and AU Economic Affairs Department are working on drafting an MoU for intensified structural cooperation.
- Turkey agreed to continue sharing its expertise on SMEs protection and promotion with African countries at the bilateral and multilateral levels
- Under the Turkish Fund to the AUC, the Department of Trade and Industry has received financial support from Turkey since 2016 for the implementation of the Africa Mining Vision strategy.
4. Peace and Security
- Turkey is sending personnel to different UN peacekeeping missions in the Continent. In this regard, as of 31 December 2017, Turkey is contributing to three (UNAMID, UNMISS, UNSOM) of the current UN Missions in Africa with 25 police officers and 1 expert.
- Somalia has received extensive assistance from Turkey in security related areas. The recently inaugurated Turkish Military Training Facility in Mogadishu has begun to train personnel for the Somali National Army. The first recruits graduated from the said Academy towards the end of December 2017.
- Turkish Armed Forces is also training African personnel in its training facilities. Last year, 176 African personnel received training and currently, 290 African personnel are continuing their training for the 2017-2018 term.
- The Turkish National Defense University has provided training to 104 officials from various African countries including Algeria, Gambia, Senegal and Somalia.
- The Partnership for Peace Training Center and the Turkish Centre of Excellence for Defense against Terrorism (COE-DAT) is continuing its training program for military officers from African Countries.
5. Rural Economy and Agriculture
- Turkey - Africa Ministers of Agriculture Meeting: The first Turkey – Africa Agriculture Ministers Meeting was held in Antalya, Turkey, on 27-28 April 2017. The Meeting discussed the mechanisms and instruments that would assist in promoting investments in agriculture and agro-industries aimed at achieving higher productivity, inclusive growth, poverty reduction and improved food security and nutrition in Africa.
- The most tangible outcome of the Conference was the web-based “Turkey-Africa Agricultural Cooperation Platform” which will contain updated technical data from Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock that will serve as a basis to pinpoint potential areas of cooperation between African countries and Turkey in the agricultural sector.
- Concrete Projects: In terms of concrete projects the Turkish Government has granted 11 million Euros to Djibouti for the construction of the Ambouli Dam. Construction which will be completed by July/August 2018.
- The rehabilitation of the Shabelle River and renovation of the irrigation system in Jowhar region is a landmark project undertaken by Turkey in Somalia.
- With respect to water management and access to clean potable water, Turkey has drilled 513 wells and provided clean drinking and tap water for more than 1 million people in Africa.
- In early 2017, President Erdoğan launched a nation-wide donation campaign in Turkey to assist drought ridden East African countries. Turkey conducted a similar campaign in 2011. As a result of this campaign, Turkey sent much needed humanitarian aid to Somalia before Ramadan in 2017.
- Turkey is also putting in place a major agricultural development programme with Sudan that will significantly increase agricultural production in that country.
6. Infrastructure: Energy, ICT and Transport
- Eximbank Loans: Turkish Eximbank is providing loans mainly for trade financing and infrastructure projects, which are critical for the economic development of the African countries. In this regard, between 2006 and 2017, Turkish Eximbank has approved granting of loans worth 868 million US Dollars for infrastructure projects in 14 African countries including Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Gabon, Ghana, South Africa, Cameroun, Kenya, Congo, Libya, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia and Zambia.
- Turkish Airlines: Turkish Airlines has become a major international airline connecting the continent to the world flying to 51 destinations in 33 countries. People to people contacts have intensified tremendously as a result of direct flights between Turkey and African countries as well as interaction between students, business people and tourists travelling both ways.
7. Social Affairs: Drug Control Programme activities
- The Department of Social affairs of the African Union Commission was supported by an allocation of USD 484,000 from the Turkish Fund to facilitate the implementation of the African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention between 2012 and 2016. Significant milestones were achieved through the programme as follows: (i) strengthened continental, regional and national management and oversight of the AU Plans of Action on Drug Control; (ii) evidence-based services scaled up address the health and social impact of drug use in member States; (iii) Drug trafficking and related challenges to human security countered through supporting Member States and RECs to reduce trends of illicit trafficking and supply reduction in accordance with fundamental human rights principles and the rule of law.
8. Other Areas of Engagement
- Congress of Health in Africa: “Congress of Health in Africa" was organized by İstanbul Medeniyet University, Federation of Islamic Medical Associations and Hayat Foundation with the participation of Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey in Istanbul on 20-21 July 2017 with high level participation from African countries. H.E. Amira Elfadil Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Commission also attended the congress.
- Combatting the Ebola Outbreak: In accordance with the “Contribution Agreement with respect to the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the African Union” which was signed on 13 April 2015, the Turkish Government contributed to the Commission 1 million US Dollars for the efforts to fight against the Ebola outbreak. To assist the efforts to control the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa, in addition to its contribution to multilateral response mechanisms, Turkey's humanitarian aid delivered the amount of 1 million US Dollars to Guinea on 28 January 2015, to Sierra Leone and Liberia on 30 January 2015.
- Media, Information and Communication Technologies : Turkish institutions are providing training for young African journalists and media members from different African institutions. The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) organized the 5th International Media Training Program between 04 and 12 December 2017, with participation from all around the world including African media members.
- International Media Forum 2017: An International Media Forum was held between 21-25 May 2017 in Antalya with the participation of high-level media professionals from over 50 different countries including Tunisia, Egypt and South Africa.
- Equipment donation to the AUC: Upon the request of African Union Commission, Partnership Management and Coordination Division, TİKA donated various essential office equipment to the African Union on 8 December 2017.
- Upon invitation of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Prof. Eddy Maloka, the CEO of the APRM, paid a working visit to Turkey between 24-26 October 2017 and engaged with various institutions to explore the opportunities to deepen the cooperation between APRM and Turkey. The discussions concerning the establishment of cooperation on concrete projects are still ongoing.
- In the framework of the 10th anniversary of the African Union-Turkey Partnership, the Turkish Diplomacy Academy will also provide training to a group personnel from the African Union Commission.
- Africa Day Celebrations: Africa Day celebrations have intensified in recent years. In 2017, with the participation of African Embassies in Ankara, a panel was organized at TOBB University with the theme of "Africa-Turkey: Economic and Trade Relations, Assessments and Prospects”. Africa Day was also observed at Gazi University in Ankara, where Turkish First Lady Madame Erdoğan and the First Lady of Guinea Madame Condé participated. The event focused on African Union -Turkey relations and highlighted African culture including songs by Mory Kanté.
- Africa Hand Crafts Center and Culture House: Africa Hand Crafts Center and Culture House was opened in the old town of Ankara under the patronage of the First Lady Madame Emine Erdoğan in 2016. Africa Day events also take place in the same location every year.
BILATERAL PLATFORM
1. Political Consultations with African Countries
- The Turkish Foreign Ministry conducts comprehensive political consultations with African countries with a view to exchanging views on foreign policy objectives and to increase cooperation. Political consultations have been held with 11 African countries since 2015.
- The Turkish Foreign Ministry also publishes annual articles regarding Africa day. This year, H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkish Foreign Minister, published an article entitled “Africa and Turkey at the Threshold of a Lasting Partnership” which outlined the general principles of Turkey’s partnership with Africa. The said article was published in the media organs of many African countries.
2. Trade and Investment
- Turkey’s bilateral trade volume with Africa increased to 18.8 billion USD in 2017. This is a three-fold increase in volume compared to 2003. Turkish contractors are amongst the major players in the continent. The share of African countries in the overall international business volume of Turkish contractors is around 21 percent (share of North Africa is 19%). Turkish contractors have undertaken over 1.150 projects which are worth nearly 60 billion US Dollars in Africa.
- Agreement has been reached with the Government of Djibouti to establish a Turkish Special Economic Zone in Djibouti that will directly contribute to the economic development of the country and East Africa by attracting Turkish foreign direct investment and creating employment.
- Turkey has signed Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreements with 45 African countries, Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment Agreements with 26 African countries and Elimination of Double Taxation Agreements with 11 African countries in line with the efforts to establish a sound contractual basis for establishing mutual economic relations. Turkey has also held Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meetings with 27 countries from Africa.
- Business Councils: The Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) of Turkey established business councils with 35 African countries in order to develop cooperation with an aim to create a platform for the advancement of bilateral trade and economic relations.
3. Culture, Tourism and Education
- 1st Turkey-Africa Education Ministers Conference: The Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkey hosted the first Turkey-Africa Educations Ministers Conference in Istanbul on 19-21 October 2017 in cooperation with the Turkish Maarif Foundation, with the participation of the Ministers of National Education from 27 African countries. Tangible outputs of the said Conference was to agree to increase cooperation with African with respect to vocational and technical training, lifelong learning, special education and counseling services, religious education and development of curriculum.
- Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centers: Turkey has established Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centers in 7 African countries (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Somalia, Senegal, Sudan and South Africa) and is planning to open in 4 more countries (Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia). These Centers are essential for cultural exchange programs.
- Turkish Maarif Foundation: Turkish Maarif Foundation was established by law in 2016 and its main purposes are to establish, maintain and supervise educational institutions including pre-schools, primary schools, secondary schools and higher education institutions in different countries. Turkish Maarif Foundation in Africa has 84 operational schools in 14 countries with its total 8,472 students.
- Scholarships: Each year, numerous African students receive Turkish scholarships. According to data of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (coordinator institution of Turkey scholarships) Turkey has provided undergraduate and graduate scholarships for 8,768 African students so far. African students received 1,239 scholarships in 2015-2016, 1,312 scholarships in 2016-2017 and 1,064 scholarships in 2017-2018. During the 2016-2017 academic year the total number of African students receiving higher education in Turkey was 14,274. This represented a 56% increase compared to the 2014-2015 academic year.
- Within the framework of exchange of students and academic staff between Turkish higher education institutions and higher education institutions of African countries a total of 165 students and 63 academic staff attended Turkish Universities in the 2016-2017 academic year, within the framework of the Mevlana Exchange Program
- Memorandum of Understanding: The Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with 13 African Universities so far.
- Diplomat training: Turkey maintains close cooperation with Africa in the field of training of diplomats with a view to contributing to capacity building efforts of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of African countries. So far, 794 African diplomats received training offered by the Turkish Diplomacy Academy, where 213 of them participated in the International Young Diplomats Program organized every year, and 581 of them took part in bilateral training programs. The Turkish Diplomacy Academy have MoUs signed with 27 African countries on diplomat training.
4. Youth Empowerment and Technology Transfer
- Technology Transfer: In line with the LDC Summit held in Turkey in 2011 where the Istanbul Program of Action (IPoA) was adopted, a technology bank for LDCs including African countries was fully operationalized in Turkey (Gebze) as of September 2017 with the signing of the Host Country Agreement and the Contribution Agreement between the Government of Turkey and the United Nations.
- Concrete Projects: A major example leading to empowerment of the youth is the Turkish-Sudanese Training Center for Vocational and Technical Trainers in Khartoum. The Center has been operational since 2013 and has trained over 1,400 trainers up to now. There are plans to expand the vocational training activities of the Center to other African countries as well.
5. Conflict Resolution and Mediation
5.1 Mediation Between the Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland
- Mediation between the Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland will be an important component of a strong and sustainable federal Somali state. As the facilitator, Turkey has hosted four rounds of talks between the Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland since April 2013. The last one was in March 2015, in İstanbul.
- In the forthcoming days, upon the request of the parties, Turkey, as the mediator, will take a more active role and will work to provide a more fruitful environment for constructive talks.
- Turkey has already hosted two rounds of academic gathering with the participation of experts from both sides. The meetings have provided an opportunity to discuss in-depth the past and dynamics of the talks.
6. Development Assistance
- In 2015, Turkey’s official development assistance (ODA) to Africa was 395 million USD and in 2016 this figure was 183 million USD in 2016. In 2016 Turkey became the second biggest donor country with its 6,2 billion USD ODA and the most generous country of the world (6,2 billion USD corresponds to 0.76 % of Turkey’s GNI). Turkish ODA has the vision of Turkish Development Model which is people oriented, sensitive with the local priorities, creating and sustaining the possibilities that the people need throughout their lives.
III. RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD
- Areas of cooperation should be streamlined and specialized in priority areas in line with AU Agenda 2063 and its First Ten Year Implementation Plan through in particular the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), as well as women and youth employment and in line with the UN 2030 sustainable development goals agenda. Both sides shall revise the Matrix of Priority areas of Cooperation and jointly decide on the list of priority projects for eventual adoption in the Third Turkey-Africa Summit, with a view to enhancing multilateral cooperation and agree to intensify cooperation in areas to be mutually decided. Furthermore, in addition to pursuing political solidarity, which has so far been satisfactory, the two sides could also pursue a meaningful cooperation, combining the expertise that Turkey has especially in industrialization, technology and knowledge transfer, Peace and security in particular, and silencing the guns in Africa by 2020.
- Need to enhance Joint Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms of the African Union - Turkey partnership through regular consultations.
- It is important for both sides to encourage a wider private sector in directing improvement, creating industrial activities and transferring technologies to African countries in the framework of partnership and mutual benefit.
- Hold the Second Turkey-Africa Media Forum in the foreseeable future.
- Ensure that vocational training supports efforts for deepening cooperation in the fields of industrial production.
- Both sides will join efforts in seeking more balanced trade regime in the framework of the partnership. In this regard, the Turkish side would consider steps in terms of trade facilities to African Union member states, particularly to LDC’s African countries.
- Need to organize thematic Ministerial meetings alternatively in Africa and Turkey.
- Need to promote cooperation between Africa and Turkey in the field of civil aviation with a view to mutually improving air transportation services.