Turkey is boosting its influence across North Africa, analysts say, intervening militarily in war-torn Libya and using “soft power”, trade and investment in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Turkey helped the Tripoli-based GNA push back an offensive by forces loyal to eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia. Vermeren said that “in Libya, Turkey has made itself essential, through ‘hard power’. In other outreach, Turkey helped in recent years with the restoration of the Ottoman-era Ketchaoua Mosque in Algiers. Turkish imports to the Maghreb region have risen sharply, especially “Made in Turkey” textiles that squeeze out locally made goods.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 24, 2020 06:22 UTC