BY BULENT ARAS
SABAH- February 26 is an important day for the African continent. The Berlin Conference started on November 15, 1884 and finished on February 26, 1885. Finishing on a snowy day, the conference divided Africa into 50 parts. Since that date, Africa has stayed fractured. After occupations and enslavement, the most important event in African history is the Berlin Conference. Last week marked 125 years since the conference ended. This important date was a cause for celebration by some, and for others a reason to mourn. For 53 countries in Africa, the meaning of the anniversary is quite complicated. For instance, this year 17 African countries are going to celebrate their 50th anniversaries, but poverty, famine, health problems and dictatorial governments are overshadowing many independence day celebrations.
In fact, Africa has been out of sync with the progress seen in the rest of the world. Rich Sudanese businessman Mo Ibrahim said last November that the current situation in many African countries is unsustainable.
As he underlined, it is almost impossible for the 53 African countries, most of them small, to compete with India, China, Europe and others. The nation-state is a product of the colonial system. The paradox is that even though the colonial system is the most hatred one on the continent, the nation-state has maintained its presence.
The Berlin Conference was made after 400 years of the transatlantic struggle over slavery. The Industrial Revolution led to an increase in slavery and the pillaging of natural resources, and European colonists started bloody struggles to get African resources. So with the Berlin Conference, Africa was divided into small parts for the benefit of big European powers.
The disunity had no meaning in terms of African dynamics. Groups that had traditionally never lived together were forced to unite. European superiority in Africa was gained this way. Countries interested in Africa care about the continent`s resources like oil. The investments in rich resources don`t benefit Africa`s peoples but only certain leaders, many in poorly run countries. So this means developed industries` interest in Africa results in other continents getting rich while Africa grows poorer.
Turkey`s interest in Africa started at the end of the 1990s. After Africa took a more an important position in our foreign policy, 2005 was announced as the Year of Africa. Paying a visit to African countries back then, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the first Turkish prime minister to go the south of the equator.
As Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu underlined, if a power ignores Africa, it cannot be a world-class power. During the Ottoman era, all of North Africa was under Ottoman rule, and many countries in Africa had close relations with the empire. With this historical memory, Turkey is taking its place in Africa with governmental institutions like the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) and Religious Affairs Directorate as well as with civil society organizations like the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) and Turkish schools. Unlike countries after Africa`s riches, Turkey is taking its position with small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a way that contributes to the improvement of those regions. Turkey`s interest in Africa is carrying out a mission of humanity to pay its debt to Africa.