Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Somalia in 2011 made him the only non-African leader to visit Somalia in 20 years. Since then, Ankara has been not only been providing humanitarian aid to the war-torn country in the Horn of Africa, but also helping boost its economy as well as training its military to help deal with grave security threats. So how is this helping a country develop after devastation by years of war?

Guests

Mohammed Ibrahim Shire

Lecturer at Portsmouth University

Mehmet Ozkan

Senior Fellow at Center for Global Policy

After more than three-and-a-half years, the Saudi-led bloc has ended the Qatar embargo. The blockade of Doha prompted its allies like Turkey to step in and provide support with food shipments and other aid. With the end of the siege, now there is talk that the Arab states want to lower tensions with Ankara as well. Could the end of hostilities provide an opportunity for a regional reset? Or is it too soon for deep-seated differences between the nations to be overcome?

Guests

Cengiz Tomar

Rector at Akhmet Yassawi University

Ali Bakeer

Assistant Professor at Ibn Khaldon Center

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have ended their three-and-a-half year blockade of Qatar. During that time, Turkey stepped in to help its key ally Doha. Now, the latter can possibly help in Turkey’s reconciliation with the rest of the GCC states. Also, we look into Turkey’s expanding relations with countries like Somalia, with the aim of ensuring stability as well as boosting their economy.

Guests

Cengiz Tomar

Rector at Akhmet Yassawi University

Ali Bakeer

Assistant Professor at Ibn Khaldon Center

Mohammed Ibrahim Shire

Lecturer at Portsmouth University

Mehmet Ozkan

Senior Fellow at Center for Global Policy

Turkey is investing heavily in training and developing war-torn Somalia’s military. Ankara has its largest overseas military base there, and has already trained about 2,500 Somali soldiers. Mogadishu has also been receiving humanitarian aid in the areas of health and education, as well as help to boost its trade and economy. Hyder Abbasi explains.

The UK’s first post-Brexit free trade agreement with Turkey has been hailed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as ‘the most important trade deal’ since Ankara signed a customs union deal with the EU in 1995. With the trade deal covering $24 billion dollars, what is exactly included in the deal and how will the two sides benefit?

Guests

Atilla Bastirmaci

Deputy Director General for EU Affairs at Turkey's Trade Ministry

Chris Gaunt

Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey

Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar has threatened to use direct force against Turkish troops if Ankara doesn’t cease its support for the UN-backed Government of National Accord. It comes as Ankara extended the deployment of its troops in Libya for another 18 months. Turkey was quick to react to Haftar's threat, saying the warlord would face "heavy consequences" and his forces become legitimate targets if the Turkish forces and interests were threatened. So how would this complicate the situation in Libya jeapordise the efforts of international community just a few months after a ceasefire deal was signed to end the conflict?

Guests

Ahmed Sewehli

Political Analyst

Murat Aslan

Researcher at SETA

Just as the UK and EU finally parted ways, the former signed a free trade deal with Turkey that will help both the countries keep trade continuity and strengthen ties between in the long run. Hyder Abbasi explains why it is being hailed as a historic deal.

Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar has threatened to directly target Turkish troops if Ankara doesn’t cease its support for the UN-backed Government of National Accord. Turkey responded by saying that Haftar and his troops will be considered “legitimate targets” if they attack Turkish troops in the area. After a ceasefire deal in October to end the Libyan conflict, could this upend a shaky peace? Also, we talk about the new free trade deal between the UK and Turkey.

Guests

Ahmed Sewehli

Political Analyst

Murat Aslan

Researcher at SETA

Atilla Bastirmaci

Deputy Director General for EU Affairs at Turkey's Trade Ministry

Chris Gaunt

Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey

It all started a decade ago when a street vendor in Tunisia, Mohammed Bouaziz, set himself on fire after police seized his fruit cart. His death transformed into a symbol that inspired men and women all over the Middle East and North Africa to rise up against injustice, inequality and corruption. The protests soon turned into all-out revolutions against governments across the region – and it was dubbed the Arab Spring.

Dictators fell, countries were reshaped and lives transformed - for better or for worse.

Guests

Maha Azzam

Head of the Egyptian Revolutionary Council

Mahjoob Zweiri

Director of Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University

Ugur Yasin Asal

Assistant Professor at Istanbul Ticaret University

The Arab Spring was the people’s response to endemic government corruption, failed economies and deteriorating social services in several countries in the Middle East and North African. But a decade on, have the revolutions in countries like Tunisia, Egypt and Syria really delivered what was intended? Hyder Abbasi reports.