Türkiye’s influence across Africa continues to strengthen, and one of the clearest areas where this impact is felt is the defense industry. Ankara’s cooperation model—built on a mutual win-win approach—has earned significant appreciation from African nations. Through this framework, Turkish defense companies are not only contributing to the military capacity of partner countries but also solidifying Türkiye’s position in the global defense market.

BAMEX 2025, hosted by Mali, has become a major milestone in this expanding partnership. Recognized as the largest defense exhibition ever held on the continent, the event brings together military delegations and officials from numerous African states. Turkish companies stand out at the fair with their diverse product range and advanced technological solutions.

İnanç Usta, Business Development Manager at Kalekalıp, stated during the exhibition that the company produces four main categories of light weapons, all of which have been in active use for years by the Turkish Armed Forces and national law enforcement. Usta emphasized that they have intensified their export activities over the past two years and are currently collaborating with several African countries, especially Mali. Türkiye has eliminated its dependency on foreign light-weapon imports, he noted, adding that new products are preparing to enter foreign inventories soon.

AKDAŞ, the developer of Türkiye’s first indigenous grenade launcher, also attracted considerable interest in the African market. The company’s Marketing Manager, Ali Dikkaya, pointed out that Türkiye had long relied on the United States for this capability. The grenade launcher produced for the Turkish Armed Forces played a significant role in counterterrorism operations, leading to growing international attention. Following this success, multiple countries expressed interest, and export processes began. Mali is among the nations already using the Turkish-engineered grenade launcher in its inventory.

The growing trust and satisfaction African nations have toward Turkish defense products further strengthens Türkiye’s presence on the continent. With its robust production capacity and high engineering standards, the Turkish defense sector aims to secure a much larger share of the African market in the coming years.