According to sources in his ministry, Turkey’s foreign minister will visit Djibouti next week to attend a ministerial conference between Turkey and Africa and discuss strengthening Ankara’s ties with the continent.

In recent years, Turkey, a NATO member, has increased its influence and presence in Africa by nearly doubling trade, providing military and diplomatic support to some nations, and signing agreements in many different sectors.

Speaking anonymously, the officials stated that the Djibouti gathering would assess a prior 2021 summit and discuss potential steps to further collaboration. According to the officials, delegates from 14 African nations as well as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the summit, which is scheduled for November 2-3.

At a time when West Africa is grappling with an upsurge in terrorism, it coincides with Turkish mediation efforts to settle a dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia over an agreement that Ethiopia made to lease a portion of Somaliland’s coastline.

The absence of confidence between the sides made the mediation challenging, according to the officials, but Ankara hoped for positive news in the days ahead.

After signing an oil and gas cooperation agreement with the West African country in July, Turkey signed a mining cooperation agreement with Niger on Tuesday.

Regarding the agreement, the officials stated that by the end of the year, Turkey’s Mineral Research and Exploration Authority will begin production in three gold mining sites in Niger that were guarded by Niger security troops.

By forming alliances with numerous countries and supplying armed drones to Somalia, Ethiopia, and other countries, Turkey is vying for influence in Africa against superpowers like France, Russia, and China.

The authorities stated that the goal of Turkey’s military training and defence equipment supply was to bolster “national capabilities” and counterterrorism aid.

“Countries that have acquired Turkish drones have increased their ground control in their countries,” said an official, citing Burkina Faso’s doubling the level of its control over the state to 65% using Turkish drones.

The United States administration denounced the weekend deaths of two Mozambique opposition members, demanding a prompt and comprehensive inquiry ahead of protests against a disputed election outcome.

According to the US State Department website, the US is the largest bilateral donor to Mozambique, providing approximately $560 million annually in aid. Washington, along with the EU and Portugal, condemned and demanded an investigation into the murders of opposition lawyer Elvino Dias and party official Paulo Guambe, who were shot in their car on Saturday.

“The United States condemns the killings of lawyer Elvino Dias and Podemos parliamentary candidate Paulo Guambe in Mozambique,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

“We join the calls made by all four of Mozambique’s national political parties in urging a swift and thorough investigation.”

In the capital Maputo, demonstrators gathering near the location where the two opposition party leaders were shot dead on Saturday following a contentious election were met with gunshots and tear gas by Mozambique police on Monday.

Early results from Mozambique’s general election on October 9 indicate that the ruling Frelimo party is projected to win again. The final results are anticipated this week. Candidates in opposition claim the poll was manipulated.

Since 1975, Frelimo has governed the southern African nation, and opposition leaders, civic society, and election monitors have accused him of electoral fraud. It refutes the accusations.

The State Department called on Mozambique’s political leaders, residents, stakeholders, and state institutions to settle electoral disputes legally and peacefully while avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and violence.