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News24
26 minutes ago
- News24
Turkish crackdown on Africans, higher prices stall 'suitcase trade'
• For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. Porters roam the narrow streets of Laleli in central Istanbul carrying parcels ready for shipment to customers all over the world. The maze of alleys that lead down to the Sea of Marmara have long been the centre of the "suitcase trade" to sub-Saharan Africa, a route through which merchants carry goods back and forth in their baggage. But Laleli's informal shipping scene, once a bustling hub of cross-continental trade, is now facing growing pressure from rising costs and tougher residency rules imposed by Turkish authorities. African traders, who helped drive demand for Turkish goods through the "kargo" system -- small-scale shipping services between Turkish wholesalers and buyers across Africa - say business has slumped, even as official export figures continue to rise. While some still make round trips, most trade now moves through shipping services. For agents like Fadil Bayero -- a Cameroonian who runs a kargo business that ships clothing, cosmetics and home textiles from Turkey to clients across Africa -- business is slow. Turkish products have a very good reputation in Africa, he said. "Before this room was filled to the ceiling. Today it is half-empty," the 39-year-old said. Like many Africans in the neighbourhood, he claimed that shipments have dropped, even as Turkish exports to Africa have generally soared -- from $11.5 billion (R207 billion) in 2017 to $19.4 billion last year. Turkish textiles, once known for their affordability, have grown more expensive in recent years. Merchants say inflation -- above 35 percent since late 2021 -- has pushed African buyers toward cheaper suppliers in China and Egypt. But for Bayero, the explanation lies elsewhere. "It's not inflation that's the problem, it's the arrests. Many people have been deported," he said. Since 2022, Turkey's migration policy has toughened, with the authorities blocking new residence permit applications in several districts of Istanbul, including Fatih, where Laleli is located. The goal is to limit the proportion of foreigners to 20 percent per neighbourhood. "The stores, the streets, everything is empty now," said Franck, one of Bayero's colleagues. "Look out the window -- the sellers sit all day drinking tea while waiting for customers." A few streets away, Shamsu Abdullahi examined his spreadsheets. In his dimly lit room, dozens of bundles are stacked on the white tiled floor, awaiting shipment. Since January, he and his two colleagues have shipped over 20 tons of goods by air freight and filled the equivalent of 15 maritime containers. The Nigerian has also made around 15 round trips to his homeland, bringing 80 kilos (176 pounds) of goods with him on each journey. "My residence permit expires in two months, and I think the authorities won't renew it," he said. He and his associates generate over a million euros a year in revenue. "It's money spent in Turkey that fuels the local economy," he said. Historian Issouf Binate, a lecturer at Alassane Ouattara University in the Ivory Coast, said much of the trade is informal, making it hard to track. "It's difficult to provide figures on the volume of Turkey's exports to Africa because many businesses are informal," he said. "Kargos" are "transitional businesses", with improvised activity shared between friends or family members. Many in Laleli now believe that the golden age of the "kargo" and suitcase trading is over. "In one year we went from about three tons of shipments per week to 1.5," said a young Congolese who has lived in Istanbul for five years and asked not to be named. "Even if we still manage to find low-cost products, we cannot compete with China," he added. Arslan Arslan, a Turkish merchant who sells African dresses a few metres (yards) away, painted the same picture. "Before, I had customers from morning to evening... but the authorities sent them back." Now Arslan searches for his African customers on social media. "I'm on Telegram, Instagram, Facebook. But here, everything has become expensive," he said. "I've lost 70 percent of my revenue in a year."
Washington Post
39 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Abandoning Somalia again will empower terrorists
America never seems to get Somalia right. For decades, U.S. relations with the impoverished, strategically located country on the Horn of Africa have followed a pattern: cycles of robust intervention followed by neglect. During times of neglect, violence and terrorism take root and threaten the stability of the entire region. And the United States is forced to return.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Message from the Governor General on Canadian Forces Day
OTTAWA, ON, June 1, 2025 /CNW/ - As commander-in-chief, I am honoured to pay tribute to the proud members of our Canadian Armed Forces—the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force—who defend our great country every day. On Canadian Forces Day, we honour their unwavering dedication and commitment to peace and security that underscores the strength and independent spirit of our nation. In his famous poem, "In Flanders Fields," John McCrae wrote, "Take up our quarrel with the foe." Every day, time and again, members of our Canadian Armed Forces take up the quarrel, in whatever form it takes: a natural disaster, a pandemic, a breach of peace on a foreign shore, or a crisis right here at home. They are there when we need them, strong and courageous and ready for whatever may come. During this time of uncertainty and insecurity, I am reassured by the steadfast presence of our CAF members as they continue to protect our way of life and defend our sovereignty. For this and so much more, and on behalf of all Canadians, I thank you. Mary Simon Stay connected:Follow GovernorGeneralCanada on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. SOURCE Governor General of Canada View original content:
