Türkiye hails African countries’ steadfast stance on Palestinian issue: Erdoğan

ANKARA

Senegal’s stance on the Palestinian issue, which is based on the two-state solution, is “extremely valuable,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday.

“We are following the steadfast stance of our African brothers, who understand what oppression, war and massacre mean, against Israel’s genocidal policies,” Erdoğan said in a joint press conference with his Senegalese counterpart Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Senegal's stance on the Palestine issue based on a two-state solution is extremely valuable, Erdoğan added.

“Imperialists have learned in Africa that a peaceful future cannot be built on blood and massacre,” Erdoğan said, adding: “The same truth will also be evident in Gaza and Lebanon.”

On Israel's attacks in Lebanon and Palestine, Türkiye's president said that the region is “heading toward a serious firestorm,” warning that the upcoming period will be much more troubled.

Erdoğan also urged all countries with a “sense of conscience” to put more pressure on the Israeli government.

Mou signed

The two leaders has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on energy and hydrocarbons with Senegal, expanding further its outreach in the fields of energy and mining in Africa.

“Our countries will cooperate in the field of oil and natural gas exploration, production and trade,” Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar wrote on X, adding that Türkiye will contribute to seismic exploration activities in onshore and offshore fields in Senegal.

Additionally, the two countries will also cooperate on renewable energy, energy efficiency, critical minerals and rare earth elements, according to the minister.

During Faye’s visit, Türkiye and Senegal also signed MoUs on cooperation in the fields of urbanization, agricultural mechanization and higher education.

Erdoğan and Faye also inked a MoU on the establishment of a high-level strategic cooperation council between the two countries.

Türkiye has signed agreements on energy and mining with Niger, Egypt, Somalia, Morocco and Algeria.

Last month, the Oruç Reis arrived in Somalia to conduct three-dimensional seismic studies in areas off the coast of Somalia as part of the agreements signed between the two countries earlier this year.

Under these agreements, Turkish Petroleum, Türkiye's national oil company, obtained licenses for three offshore areas in Somali waters.

Moreover, Bayraktar announced last week that Turkish Petroleum Somali’s petroleum Authority inked a new agreement on onshore hydrocarbon exploration in Somalia.