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

, Berlin time (CEST, UTC+2)
Venue: Humboldt Carré, Behrenstraße 42, 10117 Berlin
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African and European views of the new global order

Global power has been in a process of re-balancing and with that shift challenges to the post-1989 order have been mounting. The war in Ukraine acts as a caesura, compelling Europe to confront the uncomfortable reality that the post-1989 order was both a function of Western power and its principles far from universal.

By trying to rally Africa to its side in confronting Russia, Europe unintentionally created a litmus test for the post-1989 order standing in Africa. Many in Africa did not perceive Russia’s action as a challenge to a global order that it felt mutual ownership of.

Opening Plenary

As Europe grapples with its role in the emerging global order, there is a new opportunity to forge a strategic relationship between Africa and Europe. To do that, Europe needs to engage with Africa’s views on the post-1989 order and where Africa situates itself going forward. Where Europe signaled openness to Africa’s view before, the fundamental re-assessment of Europe’s assumption of global order occasioned by the Ukraine war creates a new openness and indeed an opportunity for Africa and Europe to forge a new consensus.

What needs to happen for Africa to buy-in to a new emerging global order? How can that new consensus be built? In which areas of the relationship? How can they be defined?

Closing Plenary

Summarizing the four Policy Salon conclusions and applying these to next steps in forging a shared African and European view of global order.

What is the ECFR 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. These convenings will be partnership efforts with European and African partners. Alternating between Europe and Africa, the first convening will take place in Berlin around the G7 September Civil Society Africa meetings. Following that, the next session will move to Africa and take place under the auspices of the Tana Forum; the premier African Forum, on October 14-16.

It is our pleasure to be organising the first ECFR Berlin Africa Forum in partnership with the European Union Delegation to the African Union and the Tana Forum. 

The Forum is generously supported by our strategic partner, the Robert Bosch Stiftung. ECFR thanks the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their ongoing support to the ECFR Africa programme, which made the first convening of the Berlin Africa Forum possible as well as to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway for their kind contribution to the first high-level convening.

Robert Bosch Stiftung
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Agenda

Opening Plenary: Africa, Europe, and the emerging global order: 29 September 2022, 17:30 – 18:45, Berlin time (CEST, UTC+2) 

Speakers

  • Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, AU Commission
  • Helena König, Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Global Issues, European External Action Service
  • Jennifer Lee Morgan, State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, German Federal Foreign Office
  • Theodore Murphy, Africa Programme Director, ECFR

Chaired by

  • Chris Maroleng, Executive Director, Good Governance Africa

Closing Plenary: 30 September 2022, 14:30 – 15:00, Berlin Time (CEST, UTC+2) 

Speakers

  • Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, AU Commission 
  • Birgitte Markussen, Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa 

Chaired by

  • Theodore Murphy, Africa Programme Director, ECFR

List of participants

  • Yonas Adaye, Commissioner, Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission
  • Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, African Union
  • Henry Alt-Haacker, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Robert Bosch Stiftung
  • Joseph Asunka, CEO, Afrobarometer
  • Giovanni Carbone, Head of Africa Programme, Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale (ISPI)
  • Frédéric Clavier, Special Envoy for Horn of Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France
  • Nathalie Delapalme, Director, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
  • Solomon Dersso, Director, Amani Africa
  • Bineta Diop, Special Envoy on Women Peace & Security, African Union
  • Elisabeth Droyer, Policy Director on African Union Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway
  • Uschi Eid, President, Deutsche Afrika Stiftung
  • Lykke Friis, ECFR Council Member and Board, Director, Danish Think Tank Europa
  • Mohamed Gad, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union
  • Paul Godfrey, Head of Africa Strategy & Partnerships, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  • Marcel Hadeed, Senior Project Manager, Policy Engagement and Partnerships, Robert Bosch Stiftung
  • Paul-Simon Handy, Regional Director for East Africa and Representative to the African Union, Institute for Security Studies
  • Charles Huber, Political Advisor to President Macky Sall, Office of the President of Senegal
  • Nikiwe Kaunda, Policy Manager, Open Society Africa
  • Helena König, Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Global Issues, European External Action Service
  • Anja Langenbucher, Director, Europe Office, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Katja Leikert, CDU Member of Parliament, German Bundestag
  • Fabrizio Lobasso, Deputy Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy
  • Lettie Longwe, Interim Director, Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), TANA Forum
  • Therése Sjömander Magnusson, Director, Nordic Africa Institute
  • Birgitte Markussen, Ambassador, Head of EU Delegation to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa
  • Chris Maroleng, Executive Director, Good Governance Africa
  • Christoph Matschie, Former SPD Member of Parliament, Horn of Africa Analyst, Zentrum für Internationale Friedenseinsätze
  • David Monyae, Co-Director, Centre for Africa-China Studies
  • Jennifer Lee Morgan, State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, German Federal Foreign Office
  • Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, African Union Commission
  • George Mukundi, CEO, Maendeleo Group, South Africa
  • Irina Schoulgin Nyoni, Head of Africa Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
  • Adebayo Olukoshi, Professor, Former International IDEA Director
  • Karen Pfundt, Head of Division Africa Policy and Initiatives, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
  • Maddalena Procopio, Political Analyst for Sub-Saharan Africa, ENI
  • Christoph Retzlaff, Africa Director, German Federal Foreign Office
  • Raimundo Robredo, Ambassador to South Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain
  • Marita Sørheim-Rensvik, Deputy Director, Section for Southern and Central Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway
  • Jean-Fabien Steck, Head of Division Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, Centre d’analyse, de prévision et de stratégie (CAPS)
  • Hanna Tetteh, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa, United Nations
  • Alberto Virella, Ambassador at large for the III Africa Plan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain