Bagassu Turkii: Senegalese Transnational E-commerce and Social Networks between Dakar and Istanbul

Year 2025, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 67 - 83, 30.04.2025

Papa Sow

Abstract

This paper analyzes the forms of agencies, social networks, and transnational e-commerce between Dakar and İstanbul, and the people involved, including migrants, GPs –gratis passengers, grouping networks, and traders. First, it considers the recent economic “charm offensive” by the Turkish state with a view to expanding into the “open African market” at diplomatic, industrial, and commercial levels; then, it describes relations between Türkiye and Senegal. After that, it discusses the visa policy between the two countries, before reviewing the literature on African migration, in general, and Senegalese migration to Türkiye, in particular; and mobility between Senegal and Türkiye, to and from cities such as İstanbul and Izmir. Finally, the paper analyzes the transnational mobility of Senegalese traders. Interviews were carried out in the Senegalese capital Dakar, where most Turkish products transit before being distributed within Senegal or to neighboring countries. The interviews mainly focused on traders who travel back and forth between Dakar and İstanbul, GPs-, and Senegalese businesspeople. Using the power of social networks such as Viber, WhatsApp, and Facebook, they regularly trade with Türkiye while residing in Senegal: indeed, some of them never leave the country.

Keywords

Transnational Mobility, E-commerce, Senegalese Migrants, Gratis Passengers

Bagassu Turkii: Dakar ve İstanbul Arasında Senegalli Ulusötesi E-Ticaret ve Sosyal Ağlar

Abstract

Bu makale, Dakar ile İstanbul arasındaki acenta, sosyal ağlar ve transnasyonel e-ticaret biçimlerini – göçmenler, GP-Ücretsiz Yolcular, grupajlar, tüccarlar – analiz etmektedir. İlk olarak, Türk Devleti'nin diplomatik, sanayi ve ticaret düzeyinde "açık Afrika pazarı"na açılmayı hedefleyen son ekonomik "cazibe kampayasını" ele almaktadır. Ardından, Türkiye ile Senegal arasındaki işbirliği ilişkilerini anlatmaktadır. Sonrasında, Dakar ile Ankara arasındaki vize politikasını tartışmakta, ardından genel olarak Afrika göçü üzerine, özellikle de Senegal göçmenlerinin Türkiye'deki durumu ve/veya Senegal ile Türkiye arasındaki hareketlilik hakkında literatürü incelemektedir; İstanbul ve İzmir gibi şehirlerdeki durum da buna dahildir. Son olarak, makale, Senegalli tüccarlarının transnasyonel hareketliliğini analiz etmektedir. Görüşmeler, Senegal'in başkenti Dakar'da gerçekleştirilmiş olup, burada çoğu Türk ürünü, iç bölgelere ya da bazı komşu ülkelere gönderilmeden önce transit geçmektedir. Görüşmeler, esas olarak Dakar ile İstanbul arasında gidip gelen tüccarları, göçmenleri, GP'leri ve Senegalese iş insanlarını (hommes et femmes d’affaire) konu almaktadır. Sosyal ağların (Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook) güçlü etkisiyle, bu kişiler, Senegal'de ikamet ederken sıklıkla Türkiye ile ticaret yürütüyor ve bazıları ülkeyi hiç terk etmeden bunu yapabiliyor.

Keywords

Afrika Çalışmaları, Türkiye-Senegal İlişkileri, Göç

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