Africa Up Close

South Africa’s then Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, and Turkey’s then Prime Minister Erdogan, signed the South Africa-Turkey Bi-National Commission in 2012. Photo courtesy of the Government of South Africa via Flickr Commons.  

Turkey is getting ready to hold its third Turkey-Africa Summit, probably this April, in the framework of its eye-catching Africa partnership policy. Launched in the early 2000s, this policy is widely considered successful given Turkey’s prior near-absence from the continent for almost a century. However, two major dynamics negatively impact this engagement. First is Turkey’s increasing involvement in the Middle East’s conflicts, starting from 2011. And second is the internal rift between the Turkish government and the socio-religious movement led by Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. since 1999, and Ankara’s designation of the Gulen Movement as a “terrorist organization”[1] in 2016. These major developments have considerably impacted Turkey’s agenda and priorities vis-à-vis Africa.

Before making an assessment of the fallout of these issues on Turkey-Africa relations, it would be appropriate to begin with brief historical background.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and H.E. President Isaias Afwerki signing the joint peace agreement. Photo courtesy via Wikipedia Commons.

Reconciliation and the Way Forward

Following the decision passed by the executive committee of the ruling party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Ethiopia’s new reformist Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, announced that Ethiopia would accept the 2002 United Nations backed border demarcation, paving the way for peace between the two nations. Dr. Abiy Ahmed then paid a historic visit in July to Eritrea, during which he and President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea signed a declaration ending 20 years of hostility and restoring diplomatic relations and normal ties between the countries. President Isaias Afwerki reciprocated with a state visit to Ethiopia just days later.

Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today’s In the News post are updates on economic development and political issues in Kenya and Mozambique, food insecurity in Zimbabwe, the new PM of Senegal, a bombardment on the Somali President’s motorcade, and governance in Swaziland.

Continue reading for some of the events this week in D.C. concerning Africa.

Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today’s In the News post are breaking news in Kenya and Uganda, jihadists in Tunisia, prison releases in Cote D’Ivoire, urban poverty, LGBT issues, peace in the DRC and run-off elections in Mali.

Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today’s In the News post are Zimbabwe’s recent polls, ongoing issues in Egypt, Boko Haram, transparency and economy in Angola, and controversy in Morocco.

The Africa Program and the Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity are jointly seeking qualified applicants for two available social media internship positions in Washington, D.C. Interns will assist program staff in its outreach and communications strategies, social media development and web management.

May 16, 2013

Brazillian Article Translation

“Brasil confirma prioridade da África em sua agenda externa ao perdoar dívidas”

“O Brasil confirmou que a África é uma prioridade de sua agenda de política externa ao anunciar que perdoará e reestruturará dívidas de 12 nações desse continente, rico em recursos naturais, onde tanto Brasil como a China buscam ampliar sua influência. A presidente Dilma Rousseff anunciou o perdão e a reestruturação de uma dívida de 900 milhões de dólares no sábado em Adis Abeba, na Etiópia, onde participou das celebrações dos 50 anos da União Africana.”

Brazil has confirmed that Africa is a priority in its foreign policy agenda by announcing that it will forgive and restructure the debt of 12 countries in the continent, rich in natural resources, where both Brazil and China seek to expand their influence. President Dilma Rousseff announced the total relief and restructuring of 900 million dollars worth of debt on Saturday, May 25th, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she participated in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the African Union.

This article has been translated from Portuguese. Click here to read the original version on Em.com.br.

Continue reading for events this week in D.C. concerning Africa.

President Obama’s trip to Africa; ‘anarchy’ in the Central African Republic; technology supporting agriculture in Kenya; the mineral paradox in East Africa; emergency meeting of rival political leaders in Madagascar; and release of terrorist suspects in Nigeria

Continue reading for an overview of today’s news.