Africa, an scenario of France's and Turkey's ambitions

The geopolitics of diplomacy has the power to change the world in which we live. France and Turkey have begun competing in recent months to increase their influence in different areas of sub-Saharan Africa, in the midst of an unprecedented crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and the conflict in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean, where both powers, members of NATO, have strengthened their military presence in recent weeks.  

The country led by Emmanuel Macron has a wide range of agreements with many sub-Saharan African countries in different areas, ranging from technical assistance to defence cooperation. However, more than three decades after applying for membership of the European Union, Turkey has moved away from Brussels and redirected its diplomacy towards Africa. The conflict ravaging Libya has had a major impact on Ankara and Paris' diplomatic relations with various African countries such as Algeria, for example, which is seeking a political solution to the Libyan crisis by relying on the absence of foreign powers, clashing with Istanbul's ambitions in Tripoli.  

Ankara has played a fundamental role in the conflict Libya is suffering as a result of the agreement signed in November between Turkey and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez Sarraj. As part of this agreement, the country headed by Erdogan has stepped up its presence in Libya by sending hundreds of mercenaries and dozens of shipments of military equipment to swell the ranks of the GNA militias. This situation was the focus of the talks held in Istanbul this week between Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.  

The Algerian Foreign Minister has opted for a political solution to the crisis far from foreign interference, especially after the recent ceasefire agreement announced by the Tobruk Parliament and the GNA. Libya is the victim of a war of legitimisation waged by the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by General Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Russia and France; and the Tripoli government, backed by the Muslim Brotherhood and internationally recognised by the United Nations, which receives military assistance from Turkey and Qatar.

The Algerian minister expressed his concern at the possibility of Libya becoming a new Syria or Somalia as a result of foreign interference from other countries. However, Ankara's growing presence in the region is only fuelling these fears. Following the meeting, the Algerian foreign minister stressed - in statements collected by the digital Arab Weekly - that “his country supports a peaceful solution in Libya, and that the shared values between Algeria and Libya will support and vigorously achieve a peaceful solution in Libya.”

Poverty and food insecurity, underdevelopment or corruption have installed at the gates of countries like Algeria. To these facts we must add the multidimensional crises caused by terrorism and transnational organised crime. The North African country fears that this conflict will increase the fragilities and tensions present in the region and that these threats will be multiplied by the presence of foreign powers.  For this reason, The Algerian FM reiterated his country’s approach to the crisis in Libya, which is based on “the contribution of the international community and international bodies to finding solutions to the problems in Libya, and his country’s readiness to provide all forms of support necessary for that,” which contrasts sharply with the Turkish approach based on monopolising the settlement agenda in Libya.

Algeria has become a new theatre of tension between Africa and Turkey. While the country on the Bosphorus is doing everything possible to prevent a renewed and strong partnership between Paris and the North African state, France is seeking to curb the growing Turkish influence in North Africa, which has shown its concern about the possible security threats it faces on the southern and south-eastern borders. France's influence in Mali can play a fundamental role in future relations between these two powers to ensure security in this region.  

In the joint press conference with his Algerian counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that “the two countries have agreed to increase their cooperation in the fight against terrorism. […] We do not want terrorist networks like the Gulen organisation in brotherly countries, and we have conveyed our aspirations in this regard”, according to the statements collected by the above-mentioned media. The Turkish minister made these statements referring to the supporters of Gulen living in Algeria and the refusal of this nation to deport them to their country of origin.  

Meanwhile, the tension between Turkey and France in the Eastern Mediterranean has not stopped growing. The country chaired by Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused France and Greece on Thursday of acting like "thugs" by sending warships to Cyprus.  Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar advised the French country not to play the hero in the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean. “Greece and Turkey … There is bullying that is difficult to understand. France, for example: is not a guarantor country (of the 1960 Cyprus agreements), there is no treaty, you do not represent the European Union, with what right are you coming here?”, raised in a public address.

French influence in North Africa is being challenged by Turkey, which in recent weeks has signed a number of economic cooperation and defence agreements with countries such as Niger. On the other hand, Algeria - a former French colony - is the fourth supplier of natural gas to the Bosphorus country after Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan and has become one of the main recipients of investments from Turkey. "Algeria is one of Turkey's most important gateways to the Maghreb and Africa", said the Turkish leader during one of his last visits to the North African nation, reopening old unhealed wounds in a region that, now more than ever, is looking for stability.