Europe and Africa are united by more than just geographical proximity. Our continents are linked by close political, economic and security ties. In times of global geopolitical upheaval, reliable cooperation with our African partners is particularly important. Germany and Europe are concerned with more than the understandable interest in having a neighbouring continent that is as stable and prosperous as possible. The aim is to extend offers to one another. That is why I am visiting important states in Africa for the third time in just a few months.

Mauritania, Nigeria and South Africa are located in three very different regions of the African continent. However, we face similar challenges: we all benefit from fair trade partnerships and freely accessible shipping routes, we all need a reliable supply of critical raw materials, we all want to use the opportunities of orderly migration and protect our natural resources in the face of climate change. We need to fight extremism and terrorism in order to safeguard people’s freedom. A rules-based international order is the framework we need for our cooperation.

As a stable country in an otherwise highly fragile region, Mauritania is a reliable partner for us. The enduring crisis in the Sahel is presenting immense humanitarian and security challenges for the country. Germany stands ready to provide even greater support in this context. After all, stability in the Sahel is clearly in the interests of Germany and Europe. At the same time, Mauritania offers potential for renewable energies, particularly in green hydrogen production. During my visit, I also want to discuss opportunities for more intensive economic relations in connection with technologies of the future.

As the most populous country and the largest internal market in Africa, Nigeria is an economic powerhouse and also plays a key role in regional energy supply. The country is already our second-largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. We want to continue to tap this mutual potential and encourage more German enterprises to take the step to become active in Nigeria. As well as its economic significance, Nigeria is a political leader in West Africa and the regional organisation ECOWAS. As an established democracy committed to a stable international order, the country has aspirations to shape developments further afield. We want to systematically strengthen our relations. This includes cooperation in the area of security, for the spill-over effects of the crisis in the Sahel are meanwhile affecting all the coastal states, from Mauritania to Nigeria.

South Africa has long been a key partner for Germany on the African continent. Our common basis of shared democratic values is a particular uniting factor for us. With no other African state do we enjoy such close and broad-based cooperation. That is why only a few weeks ago we upgraded our relations to a Strategic Partnership, through which we also intend to intensify dialogue on foreign-policy issues. For the voice of South Africa– as a staunch advocate of multilateralism and as the only African member of the G20 – carries weight. With just under 600 German companies and as by far the most significant trade partner in Africa, South Africa is also a central focus for German business. Considerable potential exists particularly in the energy sector and in raw materials cooperation. In the course of my talks there I intend to explore how we can take further steps to move closer to one another in this area.

When crises, trade restrictions and global isolationist tendencies are testing the limits of international cooperation, it is down to us to forge even closer worldwide networks – as we are doing with crucial partners on our neighbouring continent Africa. Here, Germany stands for international cooperation, economic openness and reliability.