The intensification of Turkish policy in West Africa led to the notable failures of Paris, caused in recent years by a series of military coups in its former colonial possessions, which led to a sharp reduction in its political influence in the region.

According to a public opinion poll conducted in 2021 with the assistance of the French Council of Investors in Africa, in which 2,426 respondents, including analysts, representatives of private business, civil society, media and religious organisations from 12 African countries, participated, France’s image has dropped a lot against the background of Turkey’s impressive breakthrough in this direction.

According to the poll, if in 2019 France ranked 5th on the continent in terms of popularity, then by 2020 it had moved to 6th and in 2021 further dropped to 7th place.

Ankara has surpassed Paris in terms of popularity in Africa

Within this timeframe, the biggest success was achieved by Turkey, which in 2021 came in 8th immediately after France, gaining 15% of the respondents’ votes. This was made possible by the growth of Turkish investments on the continent and organising new Turkish Airlines routes on the African continent.

The UN Report on Global Humanitarian Assistance for 2018 also played a significant role; Turkey was ranked first in terms of funds allocated to humanitarian assistance to states in need, spending $ 8.3 billion or 0.79% of the state budget.

But the criterion of the most “useful” partner in Africa was claimed by China, followed by the US, Canada, Germany, Japan and then Turkey in 6th place, leaving behind the United Kingdom, UAE and France.

When Ankara surpassed Paris in terms of popularity in Africa, this evoked serious concerns in Paris. The French president, in his usual manner, saw this as a machination of geopolitical opponents. According to the Institute for Strategy and Security in Jerusalem, in November, 2022, he accused Turkey, as well as China and Russia, of subversive activities against French interests in Africa.

In this regard, the British news agency Middle East Eye points to the obvious baselessness of Paris’ accusations against........

© New Eastern Outlook