Controversial Turkish President Erdogan To Visit Zambia Next Week

The widely criticised President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Zambia next week on an official visit.

A statement released by the Turkish Presidency last evening confirmed he will attend the 10th BRIC Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 25-27th, and as part of this trip will visit Zambia. The statement highlighted that he and Lungu will be discussing all aspects of relations between the two countries and on regional and international development.

This visit comes as the two nations have become closer over the past few months. However, Lungu’s critics have noted that this is just another questionable leader he has chosen to align himself with. Previous ‘close’ friends included the widely condemned Mugabe and Zuma, he remains close with Museveni who like Erdogan has openly oppressed opposition views and government critics.

President Erdogan will be accompanied by Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak. President Erdogan is widely seen as a dictator after he declared himself the winner of a nationwide referendum in 2017 that all but brought Turkish democracy to an end.