Five things to know about Turkey's interests in Africa

Istanbul — Turkey is pushing for diplomatic and economic influence on the world stage -- not least in Africa, where it announced plans this week to search for oil and gas off Somalia. Over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's two decades in power, Ankara has consolidated its foothold on the continent, quadrupling its number of embassies there. Here are five of Turkey's diplomatic and economic interests and strategies in Africa: 'Alternative to the West' At a time when many African countries are...