Turkey to reinvigorate long-neglected African ties - Erdogan

In a bid to strengthen its bilateral ties with other countries, Turkey has signed several development agreements with Uganda on Wednesday.

President Tayyip Erdogan and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni signed agreements in tourism, defense, trade and education with Erdogan assuring that Turkey was willing to share its experience.

Speaking at the State House in Kampala, Erdogan said: “Uganda has heavily invested in several projects not only the east African region but also the entire African continent.”

I am glad President Erdogan travelled with a delegation of 115 businessmen, we shall see how to engage them. pic.twitter.com/wx6sJAqAwj

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) June 1, 2016

He stressed his government’s links to Africa since coming to power in 2002 and added: “In an effort to reinvigorate our long-neglected ties with the continent, Turkey in 2005 launched an African initiative to cooperate more closely with our friends and allies in the region.”

Erdogan also welcomed Uganda’s involvement in Somalia, where it provides troops for the African Union mission fighting al-Shabaab militants.

The president is currently on a four-day tour of Uganda and Kenya.