Türkiye also contributes to the growing anti-colonialism in West Africa
It is stated that Türkiye's long-standing policies and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's "The world is bigger than five" speech at the United Nations (UN) have an impact on the rising anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism attitude in West Africa.
Prof. Dr. Enver Arpa, former Head of the Middle East and Africa Department of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Director of the Institute of Regional Studies at Ankara Social Sciences University, evaluated the anti-colonial approach rising in West Africa, especially among young people, to AA correspondent.
Arpa noted that one of the main reasons for Türkiye's gaining prestige in Africa can be attributed to President Erdoğan's speeches at the UN and continued as follows:
"In his speeches, President Erdoğan criticises the ongoing injustices in Africa and the brutal policies of the colonial era. Recently, the consciousness of 'The world is bigger than five' is also awakening in Africa. This is not a simple slogan, there is a deep backstage. A continent with 54 African countries has no say in some platforms. 5 countries can veto all decisions. This is a sign that African countries and other countries are not taken into consideration in these platforms. Türkiye rebels against this. "If there are 54 African countries, they should also have a say," it is sympathised in this continent."
Emphasising that Türkiye's statements for the development of African countries do not remain at the level of discourse, Arpa cited development projects, the increasing number of embassies, the activities of organisations such as TIKA, Yunus Emre Institute, Maarif Foundation and Turkish Airlines' flights to 54 destinations in Africa as examples.
"The consciousness developed through the West Africa-centred anti-French sentiment has started to emerge"
Arpa pointed out that especially in West African countries such as Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso, an attitude has been formed against the new colonialism that France continues with military interventions and economic agreements, and made the following assessment:
"The consciousness developed through the West Africa-centred anti-French sentiment has started to emerge. The new administrations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger declared that they would unite in opposition to France by fighting on the same side if necessary. These states also declared that the possible military intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Niger would be a declaration of war against them. I hope that such a war will not happen. It is understood that France is not warmly welcomed in the new Niger. France has already had to withdraw its troops from Mali."
On the other hand, Arpa emphasised that the widespread use of communication tools across the world played an important role in the anti-colonialist attitude that developed in West Africa, and stated that thanks to technology, the youth of the region realised both the potential in their countries and the prosperity in other countries.
Arpa stated that in order not to forget the traumas created by the colonial period in the region, activities such as the museums of the places used in the slave trade are carried out, and emphasised that the hatred for the status quo governed by neocolonialism feeds the anti-colonial attitude.
"We see that France is losing and weakening its influence in the region day by day"
Pointing out that the uranium supply of the country came to the agenda again after the military coup in Niger, Arpa noted that France has been supplying uranium from its former colony Niger for about 50 years.
Arpa stated that the West African youth are disturbed by the fact that countries with uranium and many other valuable minerals are at the top of the ranking of the world's poorest countries and that France is therefore met with antipathy.
Underlining that it would be incomplete to evaluate the French presence in West Africa only through mineral exploitation, Arpa said that a new colonial order, which is also carried out through economic agreements, still exists in the region.
Reminding that the CFA franc, the currency of the French colonies used in 14 countries in West Africa, is printed in the French central bank, Arpa used the following expressions:
"Unfortunately, the countries in the region are not yet capable of acting completely independently from France in terms of economic relations. We see that France is losing its influence in the region day by day and gradually weakening. Russia is taking the place vacated by France with its Wagner powers and energy projects. This is one of the issues that make France uneasy. Türkiye's influence in the region should not be forgotten. Türkiye has recently become one of the countries with increasing influence and rising reputation in West Africa and Africa in general."
