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Türkiye's Ambassador to Gambia, Fahri Turker Oba, said his country takes a "comprehensive and sincere approach" toward Africa, emphasizing that African prosperity and peace would benefit the entire world.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the occasion of Africa Day on May 25, Oba outlined Türkiye's growing diplomatic footprint across the continent and its multifaceted engagement strategy.
"The African continent ultimately wants to live in prosperity and peace. Africa's prosperity and peace will benefit the whole world," Oba said, highlighting the continent's potential despite historical challenges.
The ambassador described Africa as possessing tremendous assets, including its young population, energy, rich natural resources, fertile land, sunshine, environment, and cultural wealth.
Türkiye now operates 44 embassies across Africa, representing what Oba called "a remarkable diplomatic breakthrough in a very short time." The ambassador noted that Türkiye previously had few missions on the continent.
"Türkiye is now the capital of Africa," Oba said, expressing satisfaction with the development of relations and cooperation with African nations as a fundamental element of the country's foreign policy.
Oba emphasized that Türkiye's approach differs from other countries by encompassing the political, international arena, and multiple other dimensions rather than focusing solely on commercial interests.
The ambassador stressed that Türkiye's Africa policy is based on sincerity and treats the continent as an equal partner.
"We see the African continent as an equal partner. I think this is our greatest added value, and Africans know this," Oba said.
He highlighted Türkiye's contributions to peace and mediation efforts in Africa, particularly its active role in developments along the Somalia-Ethiopia line. In Gambia specifically, Türkiye has trained soldiers intended to contribute to U.N. peacekeeping forces.
"In Isparta, a total of 500 soldiers received training twice. We also provided armored vehicle grants this year. All of these are indicators of the importance we attach to Gambia's security and stability," Oba said.
Oba underlined the multi-dimensional development of Türkiye-Gambia relations, noting the strategic importance of the West African nation as a gateway to the region.
Trade volume between Türkiye and Gambia reached $88 million as of 2024, with Gambian exports to Türkiye increasing by 20 percent, according to the ambassador.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) implemented 16 projects in Gambia last year, including waste collection support and women's garden projects that created vegetable and fruit sales areas with cold storage and electricity provision.
The Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center currently operates in Gambia, with 32 students taking Turkish language courses. Oba said this number would be increased.
The ambassador noted growing interest in the Turkish language and culture, adding that scholarships and vocational training programs also contribute significantly to developing relations between the two countries.
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