Viewpoint: Turkey as a “political” actor in Africa – an assessment of Turkish involvement in Somalia

Abstract

The crisis of food security in Somalia in 2011 prompted an increase in Turkish involvement in Eastern African politics. Initially started as a humanitarian response, Ankara's policy has evolved into a fully fledged Somalia policy with political and social dimensions. This article discusses the role and influence of Turkey in efforts bringing stability to Somalia. It is argued that Turkey's Somalia policy, as far as it has succeeded in short term, has not only located Turkey as a “political” actor in Africa but also expanded Turkey's Africa policy into a more complex and multifaceted one. As such, Turkey's experience in Somalia will have significant implications for its broader African agenda.