Stability and Development
A key strand of our political interests and objectives with regard to Sub-Saharan Africa is the creation of democracy, stability and prosperity. In line with this, our approach in matters of African security and development policy is one of partnership. It is encouraging to see that in Africa organizations and structures are being created that make such a policy of co-operation possible.
African organizations implement the new political agenda
African states have come together to form various organizations.
The Organization of African Unity (OAU) was founded as far back as 1963. It was disbanded and then recreated as the African Union (AU) in 2002, when it was vested with greater powers.
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was inaugurated on 3 July 2001 by the heads of state and government as an economic development programme for Africa. The aim of NEPAD is to develop a vision for Africa as well as strategies to implement it.
African states intend to work together to fight poverty, encourage sustainable development and economic growth, increase African involvement in global economic processes, and strengthen the role of women. Africa recognizes that this can only happen within a context of peace and security, good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
As a result, regional organizations play an increasingly important role in implementing the new African political agenda, as a vital link between the pan-African processes (NEPAD) on the one hand and those on a national level on the other.
The following regional organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa are particularly important in this respect:
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
East African Community (EAC)
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
“Good governance”
Co-operation with Africa is particularly crucial with regard to issues of “good governance”, democratization and human rights. The revised treaty between the European Union and the African states (the Cotonou Agreement) and the European election monitoring commissions are important vehicles in this respect.
Migration and the “brain drain”
A focus on partnership is also important with regard to the issue of migration. The “brain drain” refers to highly trained and educated people – such as academics and skilled workers – who move to other countries to work, with negative consequences for the economy of the country they have left behind. Issues related to the brain drain and to security and development policies must be included in the dialogue with the transit countries and the African countries of origin.
Development policy
Independent of the stabilization missions within the security policy remit, it is important that our long-term investment in development co-operation with Africa should continue to receive adequate financial support.
As a member of the EU and G8, Germany has made a commitment to increase funding for development co-operation, from the present level of 0.37% GDP, to 0.51% GDP by 2010 and 0.7% GDP by 2015. Half of this increased funding is to be targeted towards Africa and this will open new and diverse avenues for German development co-operation with the continent.
