Turkey in Africa: The Implementation of the Action Plan and an Evaluation After Fifteen Years

In the recent years, Turkey has increased her efforts to develop relations with African countries in every field. 
 
Within this framework, Turkey had in the past , from time to time, more or less intense attempts to develop her relations with African countries. When Turkey faced difficulties on Cyprus issue at the  United Nations;  delegations or special representatives  were sent to African countries. In certain cases, similarly specials emissaries were sent to African countries in order to explore opportunities for economic and commercial cooperation. However, a comprehensive and global plan involving Turkey's relations with Africa in all aspects could not be considered. It was in 1998 that  Turkey decided to develop her relations with the  African Continent as a whole without any distinction by devising an Action Plan. The main idea steering Turkish officials to make an action plan stemmed from the determination that the relations between Turkey and African continent did not seem satisfactory considering the current great potential. It was necessary to develop relations with the African continent to a large extent.   
 
The idea of Action Plan developed in 1998 as a result of various consultations carried out within the context of a series of meetings, in which Government officials, Turkish Ambassadors in Africa, representatives of private sector, and honorary consuls of African countries participated.

In the light of consultations and views expressed in these meetings, Ministry of Foreign Affairs prepared an Action Plan in order to develop the relations between the African Continent and Turkey in every possible area.