The University of Edinburgh's Centre of African Studies, the 8th European Conference on African Studies, Scotland, the United Kingdom, 13 June 2019.
Author:
Author:
Abdurrahim Siradag (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM))
Paper short abstract:
Turkey has been developing a new pattern in the field of soft power politics in Africa. This paper will discuss a number of significant questions regarding the Turkish NGOs' involvement in Somalia and explore the main dynamics and the reasons behind its involvement.
Paper long abstract:
Turkey has been one of the most visible actors in African politics in recent years. It has not only developed its relations with Africa in the fields of high politics, but also strengthened its relations in the fields of low politics. Turkey has increased the number of its diplomatic missions across the continent from 12 to 41. At the same time, while Turkey's total trade with Africa was around 5 billion USD in 2003, it reached to 21 billion USD in 2018. In addition, Turkey opened its largest overseas military base in Somalia in 2015. Turkey has been developing a new pattern in the field of soft power politics in Africa. Somalia has been a unique place for the Turkish NGOs that have been actively interacted with the local people. Importantly, Turkish NGOs are not only providing humanitarian aid in Somalia, but also implementing a set of significant initiatives creating job opportunities for the local people and supporting the small-scale enterprises. Why have been Turkish NGOs actively and fearlessly involved in the social projects in Somalia that is among the most dangerous countries in the world? What are the forces driving the process of the Turkish NGOs in Somalia? This paper will discuss a number of significant questions regarding the Turkish NGOs' involvement in Somalia and explore the main dynamics and the reasons behind its involvement.
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