Türkiye expands defence footprint in Africa as Rwanda strengthens security ties

Rwanda has emerged as one of  Türkiye’s growing defence partners in Africa, reflecting Ankara’s broader push to expand military cooperation and defence exports across the continent, according to publicly available government statements, defence industry reports and analysts.

Over the past several years, Türkiye has significantly expanded its diplomatic and military footprint in Africa, combining defence agreements, military training and arms exports with wider trade and investment initiatives.

Rwanda has been among the countries strengthening ties with Ankara, though the two governments have disclosed few details about their defence cooperation.

Open-source defence publications have reported that Rwanda has sought to acquire Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles, one of the world’s best-known armed drones. Neither the Rwandan government nor Turkish authorities have publicly released detailed information on any purchase agreement, delivery schedule or fleet size.

Manufactured by Turkish defence company Baykar, the Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle capable of conducting surveillance, reconnaissance and precision strikes. The aircraft has gained international prominence after deployments in conflicts in Ukraine, Libya, Syria and the South Caucasus, and has become one of Türkiye’s most successful defence exports.

Türkiye has steadily expanded sales of the drone to countries across Africa, where governments have increasingly sought cost-effective platforms for border security, counter-insurgency operations and intelligence gathering.

Defence analysts say the growing demand reflects both the drone’s operational track record and Türkiye’s willingness to provide military equipment with fewer political conditions than some Western suppliers.

Ankara has also broadened military engagement through defence cooperation agreements, officer training programmes and participation in regional security forums.

For Rwanda, closer defence ties with Türkiye complement a broader strategy of diversifying security partnerships beyond traditional suppliers. Kigali has invested heavily in modernising its armed forces over the past decade while increasing its participation in international peacekeeping missions.

Despite reports by defence publications that Rwanda operates Bayraktar TB2 drones, Kigali has not publicly detailed the composition of its unmanned aerial fleet or disclosed how such systems are deployed.

Türkiye’s expanding defence relationship with African governments has become a key pillar of its foreign policy on the continent. Turkish defence companies have secured contracts for drones, armoured vehicles, naval equipment and communications systems in multiple African countries, while Ankara has increased military diplomacy through high-level visits and defence cooperation agreements.

Analysts say the combination of competitive pricing, growing industrial capacity and active diplomatic engagement has enabled Türkiye to become an increasingly influential supplier in Africa’s defence market.

As security challenges persist across parts of the continent, demand for unmanned aerial systems is expected to remain strong, with governments seeking technologies that improve surveillance capabilities while reducing operational costs and risks to personnel.

Neither Rwanda nor Türkiye has publicly disclosed the full scope of their military cooperation, leaving many aspects of their defence relationship outside the public domain.