Emine Erdoğan: "I believe that Africa will be one of the greatest powers of this century with its rich potential"

Emine Erdoğan expressed her belief that Africa, with its rich potential, will overcome the dark days of the past and become one of the greatest powers of this century.

Kriter Magazine featured SETA General Coordinator Burhanettin Duran's interview with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wife Emine Erdoğan.
In the interview, Emine Erdoğan talked about the impressions she gained during her visits to Africa, the similarities and differences in the continent and Turkey's approach towards the continent. She stated that they visited many African countries from east to west, north to south after Turkey's opening to Africa in 2005.
When asked about the negative picture she encountered during her first visit to Africa and the changes in the geographies that Turkey has touched today, Emine Erdoğan responded as follows
"The fight against poverty, human rights, war and conflicts are the most important areas of struggle. After all, Africa is a geography where the dark pages of the history of colonialism were written. When we look at Africa today, we see that many countries are there with different motivations. However, Turkey has an active, multidimensional, entrepreneurial and humanitarian foreign policy. This, of course, has its positive repercussions. We are there with our strong institutions such as TIKA, Presidency of Religious Affairs, Maarif Foundation, Yunus Emre Institutes, AFAD, Red Crescent. These institutions are not just making grants or donations, they are working for the development and progress of the continent, so that it can stand on its own feet."

"History sees those who exploit on one side and those who build and restore on the other"
Expressing that they see the success and happiness of the African geography as their own success and happiness, Emine Erdoğan stated that the African partnership policy, which started in 2013 after the African opening, is the product of a holistic understanding that includes the activities of public institutions, private sector, non-governmental organizations and humanitarian aid organizations. Emphasizing that contributing to the peace and stability of the continent and supporting its economic and social development are the main objectives, Emine Erdoğan continued as follows:
"Our bilateral relations are developing on the basis of equal partnership and mutual benefit. Therefore, Turkey's motivation for Africa enables us to be friends and brothers with all African countries. Because we see the success and happiness of the African geography as our own success and happiness. In a sense, our relations with Africa are written in the history of the world as a good example of humanity. History sees those who exploit on the one hand and those who build and develop on the other. The people of the future will see what kind of options are in front of people and states, and that humanity can be the soul of a state through what we are doing today. The change in the African geography will not happen all at once. However, the seeds that have been planted for years are bearing fruit, so I believe that Africa, with its rich potential, will overcome the dark days of the past and become one of the greatest powers of this century."
"The population of orphaned children in Africa is one of the deepest wounds of my heart"
"Asked whether there was a person or event in the countries they visited in Africa that left an impression on them, Emine Erdoğan said the following:
"It is not possible for me to describe it through a single event or person, because all of my African travels have a great significance for me. So much so that what I have seen and witnessed has turned into a memoir. I don't know any other place where suffering is so intense. If oppression has its own history, I think that history was written on this continent. Changing the world, doing justice is an instinct that comes from within every human being. We all want to reach out to people we don't even know, even in the face of a painful picture we see on the television screen, to ease their tears. If you remember, there was a time when the misery of children in need of a sip of water, a morsel of bread, stuck to their bones, was often the subject of photographs and documentaries. It was as if what we call desperation was the climate of Africa. Even seeing these images in a magazine or on the news is very shocking, but seeing hunger, famine, poverty, dying children on the ground changes you completely. Therefore, it is very difficult for me to separate what I witnessed, but I cannot help but say that the orphaned child population in Africa is one of the deepest wounds of my heart."
Emine Erdoğan stated that the experience of being an orphan in a geography where health and education services are extremely deficient and even finding clean water is impossible in some places is very heavy, and that the struggle of the children she met in the orphanages she visited was a great pain in her heart.

Stating that there are also some beautiful memories that express the place of what Turkey has done in the hearts, Erdoğan said, "For example, in 2017, within the framework of the opening of the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations, the F4D (Fashion for Development) Fashion for Development event was organized. Here, the world-famous model Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid gave an award speech and thanked Turkey for all that has been done in Africa in front of me and all the invited heads of state and heads of government. In other words, what we do is appreciated by people from all circles. It is a priceless feeling that Turkey's sacrificial work is undeniably known and spontaneously spoken in the ears of the whole world."

Noting that Turkey's investments and people-oriented policies have made significant progress in Africa in terms of education, Emine Erdoğan said, "Our Maarif Foundation is very effective in this field. They are raising qualified people. At the same time, they carry Anatolian wisdom and our values there. In other words, while raising people, they provide knowledge blended with science and wisdom."
Reminding that there are also many African students benefiting from Turkish scholarships, Emine Erdoğan said:
"We have received applications from 54 African countries in the last 10 years. Approximately 14 thousand successful students benefited from these scholarships and received education in our country. Education is a type of investment where you will not get the results instantly, but in the long term. Each of these students will return to serve their countries when they receive their diplomas. When doctors are trained, there will be no need for doctors from abroad to come and save patients. Likewise, as engineers, teachers and scientists increase, Africa will become a geography that stands on its own feet more. Qualified human resources will ensure that the next generations will also be qualified. That is why, as in every country, the future of African countries will be shaped in the hands of young people. At this point, I sincerely believe that we will reap the fruits of all the work done in education as humanity."
"Our foreign policy embraces all humanity"
Erdoğan said that all human beings react in the same way to pain, sorrow and disaster, that tears, laughter, birth or death do not need an interpreter, and that the heart of a mother has a universal rhythm. Emine Erdoğan continued as follows:
"We are blessed that Anatolia has a great wisdom. These lands are the home of many friends of Allah. They have left us a great spiritual heritage. In addition, when you look at our history, you see that we have opened our doors to all the oppressed and rushed to the aid of humanity in every geography. Therefore, Turkey looks at the world from a much different civilizational perspective. Our foreign policy embraces all humanity. For this reason, our country is one of the most generous countries in the world. This generosity stems entirely from this past. Most importantly, we do not divide people into categories such as language, religion, race and ethnicity. If you do not see humanity as a family, you cannot be just. For example, I will never forget our visit to Somalia in 2011. While the whole world gave up on the people there, our country stood by Somalia. It is justice not to turn away when one of the biggest humanitarian disasters the world has ever seen is taking place. Human beings have responsibilities starting from individual basis to be realized by the state. I believe we are very lucky at this point. Despite all our differences, we believe in the human family and our policies are shaped in a human-centered manner."
Reminding that Turkey-Africa relations have a historical basis, Emine Erdoğan said, "When you go to Africa, you see the footprints of our ancestors there. Everywhere they went, they not only restored but also kept Anatolia's culture of tolerance alive. Our relations, which have such a strong foundation, are woven with the bonds of friendship. As a result of this, African people have a great love for Turks."
"I find projects that will have a butterfly effect extremely important"
Stating that Turkey proves its friendly attitude with its deeds, Emine Erdoğan said:
"For example, in 2002, we had only 12 embassies in Africa. Now we have 43 embassies operating. When you look at the African embassies in Ankara, you see the same development. The number of African embassies increased from 10 in 2008 to 37 in 2021. Our airlines operate flights to 40 countries and 60 destinations on the continent. All these are indicators of how much our mutual relations have developed. Of course, there are many vulnerable groups in Africa. But before that, Africa as a whole is a disadvantaged geography. Look, we have left two years behind in the Covid-19 pandemic. This pandemic is one of the biggest disasters in world history. During this period, only 3 percent of the African population has received the vaccine. In developed countries, the vaccination rate is around 60 percent. These days have once again confirmed the proverb 'a friend is known on a black day'. The world is in a race for vaccine supply. Rather than a fair distribution, many countries hoarded vaccines. In this process, we stood by African countries. We provided 44 African countries with assistance such as medical equipment grants, cash donations, and permission to export and purchase medical equipment. This is how we can alleviate the problems of disadvantaged groups, that is, by not forgetting them on a black day.
However, I find projects that will have a butterfly effect extremely important. I believe that the African Handicrafts and Culture House I mentioned is inspiring in this respect. We should not forget that the prerequisite for development is the empowerment of women. When this happens, the problems of children and other vulnerable groups are also solved. In short, I have always supported women-oriented projects and I wish to realize similar projects in the future."
Stating that she works to draw attention to Africa's problems and that Africa is always one of the topics in every international meeting and platform, Emine Erdoğan said, "In 2019, I participated in the 'Preventing Early Marriage and Rape in Africa' panel at the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the special invitation of Fatima Maada Bio, the wife of the President of Sierra Leone. In my speech there, I stated that child marriage is violence, a violation of human rights and a crime according to international legislation."
Reminding that they organize special programs for Africa Day every 25 May, Emine Erdoğan said, "We meet many of our African friends on the occasion of these programs. We come together with the state authorities of African countries as well as non-governmental organizations. During my visits to Africa, I especially attach great importance to attending meetings with African NGOs. You learn about the problems first hand. Of course, I always visit orphanages. Making even one of those children happy is a great feeling that cannot be put into words."
"All proceeds of the book will be donated to the African Handicrafts and Culture House"
Recalling that during her visit to the United States as part of the 76th General Assembly of the United Nations, she opened the Turkish House, Emine Erdoğan said that she launched her book "My Travels in Africa" at this opening. Erdoğan said, "What I have written after these long years of travels is the sum total of my many witnesses of the human condition. In the background of writing about what I saw and the impact it had on me, there is a desire to wake up the international community and send an invitation to everyone's conscience. I would like to mention that all the proceeds of this book will be donated to the African Handicrafts and Culture House. It will reach African women through that channel. In short, as well as raising awareness in the international community, I am also working in cooperation with our African friends. I think all this contributes to the transformation of African issues into an international agenda."
"It seems that the meetings you held in the countries you visited in Africa were quite cordial. Do you keep in touch with these people or organizations after these meetings? In other words, is there a continuity in your relations with these countries?" In response to the question, Emine Erdoğan said that she had a really special friendship with the First Ladies of Africa. Erdoğan explained the following:
"This friendship has been shaped by years of sincerity and the reciprocation of our selfless work in hearts. In this process, we have come together frequently, both during our mutual visits and at international meetings, which has helped to strengthen our friendship. All these meetings, beyond their official nature, are opportunities for us to exchange ideas about countries, women, children and all kinds of problems. We also have considerable sharing in terms of culture. Many projects such as the books on African Food Culture and African Proverbs have been created in this way."
Noting that the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit will be held in Istanbul on December 17-18, Emine Erdoğan said, "I believe that a great synergy will emerge from this meeting, just like the others. We will catch up with the First Ladies, with whom I have a special friendship, and we will discuss new projects."

December 3, 2021

Source:Seta Foundation