Turkey and South Africa: The Development of Relations, 1860–2005

The document details the evolution of South Africa-Turkey relations, moving from early religious and consular contacts in the 19th century to formal diplomatic ties established in 1992. It examines significant political frictions, including Nelson Mandela's refusal of the Ataturk Peace Prize, disputes over arms sales and human rights, and the sensitive issue of Kurdish separatism. Economically, the report notes a trade balance heavily skewed in South Africa's favour, driven largely by gold and coal exports, and discusses the role of 'Anatolian Tigers' in promoting direct investment. The report concludes with the 2005 visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which aimed to cement relations and implement Turkey's 'Outreach to Africa' policy.

• Formal diplomatic relations were established on 12 October 1992, though contacts date back to 1861 with the appointment of an honorary consul-general of the Ottoman Empire in Cape Town.
• A significant political tension arose when Nelson Mandela declined the Ataturk Peace Prize in 1991, an act that became a 'cause célèbre' in Turkey and hindered diplomatic progress for years.
• Relations were severely strained in the late 1990s after South Africa cancelled arms contracts and imposed an embargo on sales to Turkey, leading Turkey to place South Africa on a 'Red List' of forbidden arms imports until approximately 1999.
• The Kurdish issue and the capture of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan created diplomatic friction, as South African officials' perceived sympathy for the Kurdish cause was interpreted by Turkey as support for the PKK insurgency.
• Bilateral trade is heavily skewed in South Africa's favour; for the period January–November 2004, South African exports to Turkey reached $871 million, while Turkish exports to South Africa were $168 million.
• South African coal has been a critical import for Turkey to reduce urban smog and meet energy deficits, with a coal-fired power station in Iskenderun scheduled to receive 50% of its steaming coal from South Africa in 2006.
• Turkish investment in South Africa is often driven by 'Anatolian Tigers'—entrepreneurs from smaller Asian Turkish cities—resulting in at least 49 known Turkish-owned businesses in South Africa across manufacturing, retail, and services.
• Turkey's 'Outreach to Africa' policy, initiated in 1998, seeks to expand relations with African nations through technical assistance, military co-operation, and increased scholarships.
• The 2005 visit by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan resulted in the signing of a Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement and an agreement regarding mutual assistance between customs administrations.

APA

Wheeler, T. (2005). Turkey and South Africa: The Development of Relations, 1860–2005. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/saia_rep_47_turkey_2005.pdf

Chicago

Wheeler, Tom. Turkey and South Africa: The Development of Relations, 1860–2005. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2005. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/saia_rep_47_turkey_2005.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wheeler |first1=Tom |title=Turkey and South Africa: The Development of Relations, 1860–2005 |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=1 March 2005 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/saia_rep_47_turkey_2005.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wheeler2005turkey, author = {Wheeler, Tom}, title = {{Turkey and South Africa: The Development of Relations, 1860–2005}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2005}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/saia_rep_47_turkey_2005.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }