In his visits to the continent, he has not only advertised Turkish military products but also sought to forge military collaborations. Though the Ottoman legacy may bring back unpleasant memories in North Africa, Turkey has found ground for smoother exchanges in many other corners of the continent. And lacking any Arab backing against Egypt, Ethiopia appears eager for a counterbalance with a Muslim country like Turkey. Libya’s southern neighbor Niger is another country on Turkey’s radar in the influence war in Africa. And by militarizing its Africa policy, Turkey risks opening cracks in the network of ties it has built across the continent over the past two decades.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 31, 2020 16:41 UTC