How Turkish Arms End Up in African Conflicts

Analysis

How Turkish Arms End Up in African Conflicts

Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability. October 28, 2025, 2:13 PM Comment icon View Comments ( )

Soldiers wearing combat gear and holding guns are seen through a jagged hole in a rusty metal surface that covers much of the foreground.

Over the past decade, Turkey has dramatically expanded its diplomatic, economic, and security footprint across Africa. Ankara presents itself as an alternative to traditional powers—namely, the United States, France, Russia, and China—in matters of development, alliance-building, and military cooperation. Many African states have embraced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “pivot to Africa,” echoing his populist refrain that “the world is bigger