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Shaping partnerships together in a changing world: The Federal Government’s Africa Policy Guidelines
We can only overcome the global challenges of a multipolar world by joining forces with Africa. To this end we are formulating options for cooperation in a spirit of partnership. These are described in the Federal Government’s Africa Policy Guidelines.
In a changing, multipolar world, Africa is emerging as a centre of gravity. No continent is growing as quickly as Africa both in economic and demographic terms. With its 54 countries, various regional organisations and current population of 1.4 billion, the African continent is hugely diverse. Around half of all Africans are younger than 18. Africa is therefore the continent with the largest proportion of young people. They rightly demand to have a say on their own future and want to be involved in shaping relations with us.
To overcome the major global challenges, such as climate change, pandemic prevention and the preservation of peace and stability, close cooperation with the African continent is crucial.
Shaping partnerships together in a changing world
The security, freedom and prosperity of Germany and Africa are closely intertwined as a result of numerous personal, political, economic, cultural and historical ties. That is why, over the past decades, Germany has intensified its relations with African state and non‑state partners in many different ways.
In an increasingly multipolar world, Germany and the EU are not the only partners for Africa. That means that we need to formulate sound and tailored options for more intensive cooperation. Mutual respect, a willingness on both sides to engage and an open dialogue form the basis of our cooperation. Fully addressing Germany’s colonial past and the injustice of German colonial rule in the former German colonies in Africa is an important element in trust-based partnerships and future-oriented relations with the countries of the African continent.
Against the backdrop of the deep-seated global upheavals in recent years, particularly the COVID‑19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its impact on the African continent, but also the increasingly dramatic consequences of climate change as a security issue, the Federal Government, under the auspices of the Federal Foreign Office, has taken the Federal Government Policy Guidelines for Africa of 2019 forward. In addition, many voices from German and African civil society, from academia and business, from the Youth Reference Committees of the African Union, the African diaspora in Germany and representatives of African countries have been heard.
The Federal Government’s Africa Policy Guidelines are a political frame of reference for coherently shaping our relations with the countries of the African continent. They are in line with the European Union’s policy with regard to Africa and based on the overarching strategies of the Federal Government, such as, specifically, the National Security Strategy.
Focus on four priority areas
In its Policy Guidelines for Africa, the Federal Government has formulated four priorities for cooperation, constituting guidance for shaping our relations with the African countries.
Overcoming global challenges together
The world has become more complex. Climate change is threatening our planet, the advance of digitisation and the development of artificial intelligence harbour vast potential, but at the same time require binding standards and regulations. Global health crises such as the COVID‑19 pandemic have dramatically demonstrated how vital global cooperation and coordination are.
Only by working together with the African countries can we overcome global challenges. This encompasses both bilateral cooperation and cooperation with the African Union and the regional organisations (Regional Economic Communities), as well as cooperation in multilateral organisations and forums.
Together with the African states, Germany is committed to fighting the climate crisis, reforming the global governance structure and promoting food security and global health. We are also cooperating with Africa on promoting a responsible approach to digital transformation, artificial intelligence and disruptive technologies as well as on reducing the factors driving people to leave their homes and regulating migration and mobility.
Sustainable growth, greater economic exchange and cooperation between companies, local added value and diversification of supply chains
As a strongly interconnected global economy, Germany has an interest in a prosperous neighbouring continent. By promoting local added value, Germany is also contributing to sustainable growth in Africa.
The Federal Government is therefore actively working to boost trade with Africa. This includes support for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area together with EU partners, work to expand the EU’s economic partnership agreements with individual African countries and support for the activities of German small and medium-sized enterprises in African countries, for example through export guarantees. The Federal Government is working to contain debt and strengthen the international financial architecture.
Multilateral initiatives such as the G20 Compact with Africa and the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative play a central role in creating a good investment climate and sustainable infrastructure. Germany will continue to closely support these initiatives.
Strengthening democratic resilience as well as education, science and innovation
Germany will in future increase its engagement to boost democratic resilience and protect human rights, not least by cooperating more intensively with civil society, strengthening the media and combating disinformation. In order to foster the expansion of civil society networks with the African states, the Federal Government is promoting cultural and intersocietal exchange and opportunities to support education, excellence research and academic cooperation programmes, for example through scholarships.
Promoting security, peace and lasting stability
Security, peace and lasting stability on the African continent also play a central role for Germany. Germany is engaged in conflict prevention and management in cooperation with African partners. The goal of the Federal Government is to even better empower African organisations and countries to prevent and resolve conflicts themselves.
The Federal Government’s Africa Policy Guidelines
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Ambassador Christoph Retzlaff, Director for Sub‑Saharan Africa and the Sahel at the Federal Foreign Office, shares up‑to‑date information on Germany’s Africa policy on X at @GERonAfrica.
