Turkey expands influence in Africa through military training

Turkey is expanding its military training programmes across Africa, with soldiers from Mali and Niger graduating from a special forces camp as Ankara seeks to deepen ties across the continent.

The soldiers completed training this month at Turkey's special forces camp in Isparta. The approach, known as the "Somalia model" after Turkey's largest overseas base, has become central to Ankara's strategy in Africa.

"The Somalia model is one of the Turkish military ideas to educate, train certain African states that are very much interested in military cooperation with Turkey," said Huseyin Bagci, an international relations professor at Ankara's Middle East Technical University.

"Turkey has done it to Central Asian countries in the 90s, in the 2000s. So now the African is on the line, and this is the new development and is good for Turkey."

Turkey has signed more than 20 military training cooperation deals across Africa in recent years.

Turkey courts Libya's rival factions in bid to further Mediterranean ambitions

Growing ties

"Somalia and Libya are central where Turkey does have training bases," said Nebahat Tanriverdi Yasar, a defence expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

"But also, we are seeing growing ties with Sahelian countries, especially Niger, Mali, Nigeria."

Turkey sees military training as a cost-effective way to increase its influence in Africa.

"It is a relatively low-cost way to present itself in sensitive theaters, with fewer operational costs and risk of direct intervention. So in a way, those relations serve as a tool for defense diplomacy," Yasar said.

Turkey has moved swiftly to capitalise on the vacuum left by France's retreating military and fading diplomatic sway in West Africa and the Sahel. Meanwhile, African nations increasingly view Turkey as a counterweight to the rising influence of Russia and China.

Turkey expands military footprint in Somalia as regional rivalries intensify

Libya's role

Turkey's training of Libyan forces linked to rival administrations also serves European interests because Libya has become a crucial gateway for people smugglers heading into Europe, said Aya Burweilla, a Libya expert at the Athens-based Center for Hellenic and Mediterranean Studies.

"Libya with an army that can secure its borders is good for Europe, too," Burweilla said.

"Libya has two seas, one in the desert and one on the Mediterranean. And you need a properly organized army that can keep the border safe."

Turkey's military training programmes are also helping the country's booming defence industry.

"If you train them, they should use Turkish weapons; this is very normal. When you look at the export of Turkish arms to the world, you see mostly to African countries," said Bagci.

Turkey's growing defence ties are helping to bring African military and political leaders to industry events in Turkey.

"It is not easy to make business, of course, with African countries, with the military leaders there, it is not easy. But when you look at military fairs in Istanbul, you see how many African countries' military and political leaders visit," Bagci said.

Turkey boosts Mali defence ties after separatist and jihadist attacks

Defence links

Turkish arms sales, such as military drones now found across Africa, often include extensive training, intelligence sharing and diplomatic engagement.

Training junior officers in countries like Somalia, some destined to become future generals, could also help Turkey build long-term relationships, said Omar Mahmood, East Africa analyst at the International Crisis Group.

"You invest in the up and coming of the Somali security force, and you'll have some sort of long-standing ties going forward," Mahmood said.

"Some of them are trained in the Turkish language as well, so that creates these sorts of bonds. So, absolutely, I think that's part of their strategic plan. It kind of shows a longer-term vision as well."