Türkiye’s influence in Africa rises - The EastAfrican

Turkey's deepening engagement across African markets represents a significant geopolitical and commercial realignment that European businesses operating on the continent can no longer afford to ignore. As Ankara pursues what analysts describe as a "soft power" strategy combining trade, infrastructure investment, and diplomatic presence, established European stakeholders face both competitive pressure and unexpected partnership opportunities in Africa's fastest-growing economies. **The Turkish Expansion Blueprint** Turkey's African footprint has grown remarkably over the past decade. Turkish construction firms now dominate infrastructure projects across East and West Africa, from port developments in Tanzania to hospital complexes in Somalia. Turkish Airlines has expanded its route network substantially, establishing Addis Ababa as a continental hub that increasingly competes with European carriers for regional connectivity. Beyond aviation, Turkish businesses have embedded themselves in sectors ranging from retail and telecommunications to manufacturing and agriculture, leveraging geographic proximity to Europe combined with cultural and religious affinities that resonate across predominantly Muslim markets. Unlike traditional European approaches emphasizing governance conditionality or extractive resource relationships, Turkey's strategy emphasizes pragmatic commercial partnerships with minimal political preconditions. This approach has proven particularly attractive to African governments seeking alternatives to Western financing structures and development frameworks that often come laden with institutional reform