Turkey's difference in Africa: an understanding approach

After Libya, the next stop on Defense Minister Hulusi Akar's African tour was Sudan. As we said earlier, Sudan welcomed our President's visit last December with great enthusiasm, and during that visit cooperation agreements were signed in no fewer than 12 fields. The signatures and the visit to Sudan resonated widely across the whole world.

Sudan, as a society, is paying a very heavy price because of the embargo that has been applied to it for 20 years. In doing so it offers the best example of the fact that it is the peoples who are forced to pay the heaviest bill of sanctions. The people, deprived of procuring even the most basic health, food and daily-life needs, are condemned to complete helplessness because the extraordinary conditions created by the embargo have become permanent. It is as clear as day that those who have had the sanctions decisions made have no share whatsoever in justice.

Although the embargo imposed on Sudan has recently been lifted, the fact that it has not been removed from the list of "countries that support terrorism" causes the extraordinary situation in Sudan to continue. Indeed, if those who drew up the "countries that support terrorism" list had even a little share of conscience, everything would be completely different today.

With its open support for the PKK, which has been judged a terrorist organization according to its very own reports, or for the PKK's extension in Syria, the JPG, the USA more than deserves to be written at the top of the "countries that support terrorism" list today. The same USA also continues to shelter the terrorist FETÖ, which carried out the coup attempt in Türkiye that caused the deaths of 250 people and the wounding of thousands.

In return, regardless of what it does itself, it can put Sudan or any country it wishes on this list and abandon their peoples to hunger, deprivation, poverty and death. In fact, drawing up terror lists in this way is itself another kind of terror with enormous costs for humanity, but never mind...

We know that our President personally attaches special importance to Sudan so that none of the agreements signed with Sudan in December 2017 remain only on paper. In the past year alone, a series of visits were made to Sudan for the follow-up and implementation of these agreements: at the level of the Deputy Prime Minister (Hakan Çavuşoğlu), at the level of the Minister of Agriculture (Bekir Pakdemirli), who is also the chair of the Türkiye-Sudan Joint Economic Commission, and in particular at the level of TİKA, Yunus Emre and the Maarif Foundation.

We know that, for the cultivation of nearly 1 million decares of agricultural land, which was signed long ago between TİGEM and the Sudanese Ministry of Agriculture, at least a pilot project has been launched in the meantime. We also know that the reconstruction of Suakin Island, undertaken by TİKA, continues at full speed...

In fact, while we are at it, let us note that TİKA's activities in all three countries, together with its activities in other countries, are truly a source of pride for Türkiye. It shows very well that this duty, this right and this power have been written out of history and placed before a Türkiye that is assertive in world politics.

Those who leave no stone unturned in nationalism, yet have no actual achievement to show, would do well to watch TİKA carefully. TİKA cannot be brushed aside with a dismissive "tika-mika"; it has become one of the strongest actors of a rising Türkiye abroad.

Of course, Suakin Island is not TİKA's only activity in Sudan. It impresses, and earns many a blessing, with a series of development projects, both for bringing the Ottoman presence to light and from which the people and producers directly benefit. It shows that Türkiye is a hand that gives, rather than takes something from the places it goes, it increases trust, it builds bridges of affection.

Of course there were also defense and security cooperation agreements with Sudan, and following them up is of separate importance. The way Defense Minister Hulusi Akar so readily gets along and bonds with his counterparts in this field may be put down to his being able to use a common language (the military language), but frankly Mr. Akar's performance in dialogue goes far beyond that. When the subject moves outside military fields to political and cultural ones, he can effortlessly find the same common language and warmth.

In Sudan, the latest state of education and cooperation agreements, especially in the military field, was reviewed, and after the necessary joint activities were planned, the tour moved on to Somalia as its 3rd stop.

The process of rebuilding Somalia as a state in its present form is in itself the most perfect example of Türkiye's humanitarian policy toward Africa. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who went to Somalia, abandoned to its fate by everyone and condemned to death by hunger, without any material calculation, showed that a different kind of politics is possible in international relations.

With this approach, the process of rebuilding the state, which had collapsed with all its institutions, its sociological foundations and its human resources, began. With its TSK, its TİKA and its business world, Türkiye, with its approach of seeking the unity and well-being of the Somali people, ensured that the state once again took charge.

Of course Somalia is still at the beginning of the road. Indeed, from the moment the institutions of the state began to take shape, the forces of evil began to haunt it again. The countries that did not turn to look at Somalia in its hardest times are now busy trying to snatch a share here again and are pursuing stirring up Somalia. They put heavy weapons into the hands of people who have no bread to eat and make them slaughter one another. And unfortunately it is the UAE, above all, that leads this business.

The Al-Shabaab organization, which is nothing but a subcontractor and which had long been silent, carried out an attack that cost the lives of more than 40 civilians just hours after Mr. Akar's visit.

Yet Hulusi Akar, addressing the Turkish soldiers at the Somalia Turkish Task Force Command, which he had visited only a day before, was saying the following:

"Whatever we do for our brothers here is too little. Our resolve is to be one, together with our Somali brothers, not only today but tomorrow too.

Our only aim is to help them in these difficult days. While doing so, never be judgmental toward their beliefs and cultures. Respect everyone's belief and culture. Do not attempt to judge anyone because of their faith, but try to understand. This must be our difference from others. We have not come here to play the master; under the leadership of our President, we have come purely on humanitarian grounds, to put a stop to a humanitarian drama."

Everyone acts according to their own nature and shows their own difference. In this way Türkiye too lets its difference speak through this approach.