Prior to the G20's 20th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, the Directorate of Communications organised a panel titled "Türkiye's Humanitarian Diplomacy and Assistance in the Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts".
The panel, held in Johannesburg on November 21, 2025, ahead of the G20 Summit on November 22-23, 2025, discussed Türkiye's mediation initiatives and contributions to peace processes, as well as its rapid, comprehensive, and coordinated intervention model in crisis regions.
During the panel, the panellists thoroughly assessed Türkiye's unique approach to peacebuilding, mediation, and humanitarian assistance policies at a time when global humanitarian crises continue to escalate. The panel was a well-attended session that addressed the growing security threats in the information age, the lack of leadership in the international system, and the significance of humanitarian diplomacy, strategic communication, and peaceful resolution mechanisms.
The panel titled "Türkiye's Humanitarian Diplomacy and Assistance in the Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts" was moderated by Prof. Kılıç Buğra Kanat, a member of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Council. The panel featured speakers, including Prof. William Gumede, faculty member at the School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand; Prof. Erman Akıllı, faculty member at the Department of International Relations of Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University; Dr. Liaqat Alli Azam, CEO of the Leading Like Mandela Leadership Institute; Dr. Tunç Demirtaş, faculty member at the Department of International Relations of Mersin University and Researcher at SETA; and Daryl Swanepoel, CEO of the Inclusive Society Institute.
Throughout the panel discussion, which highlighted Türkiye's emergence as one of the world's most influential actors in humanitarian diplomacy under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the past twenty years, particular emphasis was also placed on fostering cooperation with the African continent. Türkiye’s rising influence in Africa was explained through the perspective of “an actor that builds partnerships rather than merely providing aid.” It was emphasised—particularly through the examples of Somalia, Libya, Sudan, and Ukraine—that Türkiye is not only a country that delivers humanitarian assistance but also a peace actor that employs diplomatic, political, security, and development instruments in a holistic manner.
At the panel, it was stated that the leadership and governance crisis within the global system exacerbates humanitarian tragedies, and it was emphasised that the current international institutions are insufficient to address these problems. The speakers stated that a key part of the solution resides in the collective cooperation of middle powers, and they noted that Türkiye and South Africa, drawing on their experience in humanitarian diplomacy, mediation, and humanitarian assistance, could become crucial partners in establishing global peace. In this context, it was suggested that middle powers create a platform for humanitarian solidarity aimed at developing swift and sustainable response mechanisms for the "forgotten crises" in Africa.
During the panel, it was also emphasised that the problems of justice and representation within the current international system have become unsustainable. The speakers noted that President Erdoğan’s approach, "The world is bigger than five," represented not only a political stance but also a humanitarian and ethical call for reform. It has become evident that for lasting global peace to be achieved, it is essential to place justice, humanitarian values, effective leadership, and ethical responsibility at the core of the international order.
The panel highlighted Türkiye's development of an integrated model to foster peace and stability in crisis regions by simultaneously employing humanitarian diplomacy, mediation, development, and strategic communication. It concluded with a collective belief in the possibility of a fair, humane, and sustainable international order.
