Senegal–Turkey relations are the
bilateral relations
Bilateralism is the conduct of political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which is activity by a single state or jointly by multiple states, respectively. When ...
between
Senegal and
Turkey. Turkey has an embassy in
Dakar since 1962. Senegal has an embassy in
Ankara which was opened in August 2006.
Both countries are members of the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Diplomatic Relations
Turkey and Senegal historically have had very friendly relations.
[Gellar, Sheldon. Senegal: An African Nation Between Islam and the West. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1982.]
Turkey assisted Senegal while it was going through the
Sahel drought
The Sahel region of Africa has long experienced a series of historic droughts, dating back to at least the 17th century. The Sahel region is a climate zone sandwiched between the Sudanian Savanna to the south and the Sahara desert to the north, ...
of 1966-1973 that coincided with
France’s abandonment of colonial support.
[Diagne, Pathé. Sénégal: Crise économique et sociale et devenir de la démocratie. Dakar: Sankore, 1984.] Mindful that the population growth far outstripped economic growth in Senegal, Turkey has constructed and subsequently managed schools in Senegal through the
Maarif Foundation
The Turkish Maarif Foundation (TMF; Türkiye Maarif Vakfı) was established under Law No. 6721 to provide formal and non-formal education and to award scholarships in all educational processes from preschool to university education, to open facili ...
.
Turkey was particularly supportive of
, who was considered a brilliant and technocratic
prime minister. Turkey supported
’s liberalization
of the political process whereby he allowed a further 13 political parties to run for the
1983 election.
[Manning, Patrick. Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: 1880-1985. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988.]
Presidential Visits
Economic Relations
* Trade volume between the two countries was US$292 million in 2018.
* There are daily direct flights from
Istanbul to Dakar.
*
TIKA’s
Western Africa headquarters is located in Dakar since April 2007.
Education Cooperation
*
Turkish Maarif Foundation
The Turkish Maarif Foundation (TMF; Türkiye Maarif Vakfı) was established under Law No. 6721 to provide formal and non-formal education and to award scholarships in all educational processes from preschool to university education, to open facili ...
runs schools in Senegal and the Turkish government has been granting scholarships to
Senegalese students since 1992.
See also
*
Foreign relations of Senegal
*
Foreign relations of Turkey
Physically bridging Europe and Asia, Turkey is a secular country that has pursued a Western-oriented foreign policy.Robins, Philip. Turkey and the Middle East. London: Royal Institute of International Affairs and New York: Council on Foreign R ...
References
Turkey
Bilateral relations of Turkey
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