Turkey ramps up hard and soft power push into Africa

From big construction projects to arms sales, Turkey seeks foothold on continent

Turkish construction firm Yapi Merkezi built Tanzanian port city Dar es Salaam's main train terminal as part of $4.5 billion in building contracts (Yapi Merkezi)

SINAN TAVSAN, Nikkei staff writer

November 11, 2024 11:38 JST

ISTANBUL -- When Turkey's Yapi Merkezi signed a $3 billion deal last month to build a railway from Uganda's capital, Kampala, to a border town in neighboring Kenya, it wasn't just a win for the Istanbul-based construction company.

From big-ticket projects and boosting trade to high-level diplomacy and military equipment sales, Turkey is ramping up a pivot to Africa in a challenge to well-entrenched rivals including China, Russia, the U.K. and France.