Türkiye and France in Africa: Rivals or Partners?

A sign of the changing international context, but also of profound internal changes, Türkiye is increasingly asserting itself on the African continent. Since the early 2000s, Türkiye’s influence has become stronger and more visible in the economic, political, cultural and religious spheres, through soft power and even military power. This is true across Africa, in the north, the Horn and sub-Saharan Africa, wherever France’s influence is waning. The coincidence of these two opposing dynamics, Turkish activism and French decline, has led many analysts and political and diplomatic actors to argue that Türkiye is replacing France in Africa. While this assertion is tempting at first glance, a more indepth analysis of the policies of the two countries reveals a more complex reality, where the arrival of one is not necessarily linked to the disappearance of the other.

This strategic brief is available on the Institut du Bosphore website.