Is Turkey putting pressure on China in Africa’s infrastructure market?

Recent infrastructure deals in Kenya and elsewhere suggest Turkey is challenging China's dominance in Africa's infrastructure market. After India's Adani Group-backed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport project fell through, China took over with a $1.2 billion contract. France's Vinci also lost out to CRBC, a Chinese firm, in another Kenyan highway deal. These takeovers highlight China's expanding role in African infrastructure.

CRBC has secured $9.3 billion worth of Kenyan infrastructure contracts. Analyst Aly-Khan Satchu notes that China offers a "full suite" of services including financing and operation, which gives it an edge over Western firms. He attributes China's success to flexible financing and lower costs, as Western companies face higher risks in Africa.

Assistant professor Jing Gu says China's advantage in Africa is due to its surplus capital and lower expertise costs compared to Europe and the U.S. However, China faces competition from emerging players like Turkey and the Gulf states. Turkey's Yapi Merkezi has built railways in Tanzania, while the UAE's DP World manages several African ports and terminals.

This diversification is not new but shows how emerging players are filling gaps as Western presence diminishes. Western firms now focus on higher-value-added consultancy services. The competition is not just China vs. the West, but among Chinese firms, Gulf capital, Turkish contractors, Indian conglomerates, African pension funds, and multilateral institutions.