President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday called globalization a new form of colonialism and modern slavery, highlighting that both Turkey and Africa refused to become colonies.
President Erdoğan spoke at the Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum in Istanbul, and criticized the West for colonial policies in the Middle East and Africa.
"I see contemporary globalization as a new way of colonialism, modern slavery," Erdoğan said. He continued by saying both Turkey and Africa refused to become colonies or being "second class citizens."
"Our African friends reached today with brave and visionary leaders like Nkrumah, Lumumba, Kenyatta and Mandela, who we lost three years ago" he said.
Erdoğan also noted how terrorism's role in the world is hindering economic development, and asked African leaders and officials to support Turkey in its fight against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), which operates dozens of schools in the continent. Erdoğan said the Maarif Foundation of the Ministry of Education started taking over Gülenist schools in various countries throughout the world, and asked African education officials to cooperate with their Turkish counterparts on this issue.
FETÖ, which is being accused of launching Turkey's bloody coup attempt on July 15, runs a global network of schools to hide its illegal activities and achieve more power through infiltrating in state institutions. These schools are also an important source of income for the shadowy group, in addition to being a useful tool for money laundering.
Explaining that Turkey will increase its current 39 diplomatic representations in Africa, Erdoğan said the country has trade agreements with 40 African countries.
Erdoğan continued by saying Turkey's trade volume with sub-Saharan countries increased from $2.7 billion in 2005 to $6.6 billion in 2015, with the country's foreign direct investments in the region reaching $3.9 billion. Trade volume with the whole continent jumped from $7 billion in 2005 to $17.5 billion in 2015, Erdoğan said.
Nearly 1,200 African business people are visiting Istanbul to meet their Turkish counterparts in a platform aiming to create a long-lasting cooperation.