Tricks of the trade: Strengthening EU-African cooperation on trade in services
Services play an increasingly important role in international trade. Improving EU-African trade in services would have wide-ranging benefits for both sides
Africa
ECFR’s Africa Programme analyses the geopolitics of the Africa-Europe relationship. This includes relations between the African Union and the European Union; foreign policy tools and strategies; and opportunities to find creative policy solutions. The Programme also focuses on two regions that are particularly relevant for Europe: the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.
Featured
Back to barracks: Building democracy after the military coup in Sudan
Sudan needs a viable political pathway to end the military coup of 2021. European states should support pro-democracy actors while encouraging a comprehensive peace process
Trading aims: The value of Africa’s deep integration trade agreement
Africa’s new trade agreement promises deep economic integration on the continent – and offers the opportunity for greater African-European cooperation, including on the role trade can play in the green and digital transitions
Operational hazard: A better way to support peace and security missions in Africa
The UN rightly wishes to devolve responsibility for peace support operations to regional partners. But it should draw up novel ways to achieve this in Africa
Turning 21: How the EU should engage with the G20’s newest member
The EU could form coalitions with the African Union at G20 summits on a variety of issues. To prepare for this, it should work with both the current and developing representatives of the organisation
A necessary trade-off: Why the EU needs to cooperate with Niger’s post-coup government on counter-terrorism
The EU and its member states typically refuse to cooperate with unconstitutional governments. But they need to safeguard their security support to Niger to help combat the spread of jihadism in the region and prevent a counter-offer by Wagner
Conflict and interests: Why Sudan’s external mediation is a barrier to peace
The war in Sudan has given rise to multiple – and sometimes divisive – mediation efforts. The EU and its member states should aim to help unify these efforts and end the warring parties’ ‘forum shopping’
Middle powers, big impact: Africa’s ‘coup belt,’ Russia, and the waning global order
The changing global order has created an enabling environment for the recent spike of takeovers in Africa’s ‘coup belt’ – with Russia and newly assertive middle powers offering themselves as partners to putschists
20 Sep
Taking stock and the way ahead: Realising the EU-Namibia Partnership
In November 2022 at COP 27 the European Union and Namibia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership to develop raw materials…
Shifting alliances: Why the EU needs to cooperate with the BRICS and Africa on the energy transition
The EU and its member states should explore opportunities for trilateral energy and climate cooperation with the BRICS and African states, focusing on converging interests to mitigate the risks associated with growing south-south cooperation and a north-south divide
Displacement theory: Why “peace enforcement” risks exacerbating conflicts in Africa
The United Nations and the African Union are moving towards the use of “peace enforcement” – but their preferred approach is unlikely to succeed
Putin’s grain gamble: A European response to Russia’s latest ploy
Russia is weaponising food insecurity for geopolitical gain. Europeans should focus their response on supporting the needs of African countries
22 Jun
Global Gateway Africa: il piano di investimenti europeo per il continente
L’incontro, organizzato dal mensile Africa e Affari, da Confindustria Assafrica e Mediterraneo e da ECFR con il sostegno di Lufthansa Group e di Assolombarda, ha l’obiettivo di analizzare le ragioni politiche dietro il Global Gateway
Publications
Tricks of the trade: Strengthening EU-African cooperation on trade in services
Services play an increasingly important role in international trade. Improving EU-African trade in services would have wide-ranging benefits for both sides
Back to barracks: Building democracy after the military coup in Sudan
Sudan needs a viable political pathway to end the military coup of 2021. European states should support pro-democracy actors while encouraging a comprehensive peace process
Trading aims: The value of Africa’s deep integration trade agreement
Africa’s new trade agreement promises deep economic integration on the continent – and offers the opportunity for greater African-European cooperation, including on the role trade can play in the green and digital transitions
Shared fortunes: Why Britain, the European Union, and Africa need one another
A closer relationship between Britain, Africa, and the EU would benefit all sides. But this would require the British government to change its approach to Europe as well as to Africa.
Gateway to growth: How the European Green Deal can strengthen Africa’s and Europe’s economies
Africa’s burgeoning innovation economies offer huge opportunities for the continent – and for Europe as it looks to tackle the climate crisis and respond to China’s BRI global connectivity programme
The fall of the Afghan government and what it means for Europe
ECFR’s policy experts examine what the Taliban takeover means for countries and regions around the world: Europe, the US, the Middle East, Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the Sahel
Mapping African regional cooperation: How to navigate Africa’s institutional landscape
Regional organisations have proliferated in Africa, with many organisations attempting to address similar issues in similar parts of the continent. Europeans should take stock of the situation they have helped create.
Disorder from Chaos: Why Europeans fail to promote stability in the Sahel
The Alliance aimed to integrate security, development, and governance perspectives but has struggled to find coherence and effectiveness
A return to Africa: Why North African states are looking south
North African countries, each for their own reasons, are increasingly turning their attention towards sub-Saharan Africa
Bad company: How dark money threatens Sudan’s transition
The transition will only succeed if the government stabilises the economy and civilians work hard to tilt the balance of power away from the military
Articles
Operational hazard: A better way to support peace and security missions in Africa
The UN rightly wishes to devolve responsibility for peace support operations to regional partners. But it should draw up novel ways to achieve this in Africa
Turning 21: How the EU should engage with the G20’s newest member
The EU could form coalitions with the African Union at G20 summits on a variety of issues. To prepare for this, it should work with both the current and developing representatives of the organisation
A necessary trade-off: Why the EU needs to cooperate with Niger’s post-coup government on counter-terrorism
The EU and its member states typically refuse to cooperate with unconstitutional governments. But they need to safeguard their security support to Niger to help combat the spread of jihadism in the region and prevent a counter-offer by Wagner
Conflict and interests: Why Sudan’s external mediation is a barrier to peace
The war in Sudan has given rise to multiple – and sometimes divisive – mediation efforts. The EU and its member states should aim to help unify these efforts and end the warring parties’ ‘forum shopping’
Middle powers, big impact: Africa’s ‘coup belt,’ Russia, and the waning global order
The changing global order has created an enabling environment for the recent spike of takeovers in Africa’s ‘coup belt’ – with Russia and newly assertive middle powers offering themselves as partners to putschists
Shifting alliances: Why the EU needs to cooperate with the BRICS and Africa on the energy transition
The EU and its member states should explore opportunities for trilateral energy and climate cooperation with the BRICS and African states, focusing on converging interests to mitigate the risks associated with growing south-south cooperation and a north-south divide
Displacement theory: Why “peace enforcement” risks exacerbating conflicts in Africa
The United Nations and the African Union are moving towards the use of “peace enforcement” – but their preferred approach is unlikely to succeed
Putin’s grain gamble: A European response to Russia’s latest ploy
Russia is weaponising food insecurity for geopolitical gain. Europeans should focus their response on supporting the needs of African countries
Warmer welcome: Ways to engage with African solutions to the Russia-Ukraine war
African leaders are undertaking a mission to end Russia’s war on Ukraine. European leaders should not dismiss the effort
From rule-taker to rule-maker: Africa in the changing world order
As African countries look to redefine their role in the shifting global landscape, they should pursue non-alignment and aim to help shape the rules of the future world order
Specials
Mapping African regional cooperation
This project maps African regional initiatives in west and central Africa and provides a data-based and a geographical overview of the ‘à la carte’ nature of African regional cooperation
Mapping armed groups in Mali and the Sahel
Violence is tearing Mali and the Sahel apart. But who are the armed groups behind the bloodshed? Where are international actors stationed in the region? And what motivates them all?
Podcasts
The Sudan conflict and its impacts on the region
Mark Leonard is joined by Theodore Murphy, Julien Barnes-Dacey and Marie Dumoulin to talk about Sudan
The Clash of Orders with Comfort Ero on Nigeria
Mark Leonard is joined by Comfort Ero to learn more about the Nigerian perspective on global order
The EU and France in the Sahel
What does the end of Operation Barkhane in its current form mean for the Sahel?
All eyes on Ethiopia: What the EU and the US can do
What are the regional implications of the Tigray conflict and the prospects for transatlantic cooperation around the issue?
Europe’s pivot to Africa
Where do we stand now in building a “strategic partnership” between the European and African continent?
Events
20 Sep
Taking stock and the way ahead: Realising the EU-Namibia Partnership
In November 2022 at COP 27 the European Union and Namibia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership to develop raw materials…
22 Jun
Global Gateway Africa: il piano di investimenti europeo per il continente
L’incontro, organizzato dal mensile Africa e Affari, da Confindustria Assafrica e Mediterraneo e da ECFR con il sostegno di Lufthansa Group e di Assolombarda, ha l’obiettivo di analizzare le ragioni politiche dietro il Global Gateway
13 Jun
A renewed partnership between Europe and Africa: where do we stand?
In February 2022, the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) agreed on a common vision to consolidate a renewed partnership around three pillars:…
15 May
Second ECFR Forum on Strategic Raw Materials – Strategic Partnerships for Investment and Impact
The EU’s publication of the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act on 16 March 2023 creates an opportunity to redesign the EU’s relationship with Africa while…
3 Mar
Seizing the moment, after the whirlwind: Nigeria after the 2023 general elections
The just-concluded general elections in Nigeria throw-up multiple contradictions. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the declared winner, cannot resolve these by simply waving the proverbial magic wand.
2 Dec
Sahel-North Africa-Europe: Addressing the vertical pathway of instability
A panel discussion organized in collaboration with the Regional Program Political Dialogue South Mediterranean of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in the framework of the 8th edition of the Rome MED – Mediterranean Dialogues, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
6 Dec
Securing Critical Raw Materials: Europe’s strategy to compete
The event will convene a select group of European decision-makers and opinion-shapers from across business, civil society, European governments and the European Commission
15 Oct
Making multilateralism work for Africa
This event takes place in the context of the 10th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa
29 Sep
Berlin Africa Forum
ECFR is launching a series of high-level convenings, with a view to defining a shared concept of the Africa-Europe strategic partnership in the emerging new global order
27 Jun
Europe and Africa in a time of crisis
European officials and thinkers to talk about challenges and opportunities presented by today’s political, security and economic crises
In the media
The migration issue, which has been growing with highs and lows for at least 15 years, should be handled as a structural phenomenon rather than as an emergency
Arturo Varvelli comments on the Meloni-Von der Leyen mission to Lampedusa and on the UE Plan on migration
Talking about rejections when our population is aging so fast is not at all far-sighted: we should promote active migration policies and select the people we really need
Arturo Varvelli comments on the understanding between Rome and Tunis, the involvement of the EU and the possible scenarios on migration
Ameer Chughtai and Theodore Murphy on mediation efforts in Sudan
The BRICS, Africa, and Europe have much in common in their pursuit of net zero, above all the rapid rollout of renewable energy
Maddalena Procopio comments cooperation opportunities among the EU, BRICS and African countries, focusing on the converging interests in the energy and climate fields.
Contrary to how it may appear to many, not least in the US, the new cold war seems to be based not on the old logic of polarization, but on a new logic of fragmentation
Following the latest BRICS Summit, Mark Leonard writes about the evolving nature of the international order