Africa
EU-African Union Summit: making the most of the European Green Deal and Global Gateway
To what extent can the European Green Deal and Global Gateway be shaped to satisfy both European and African interests?
Experts & Staff
Theodore Murphy
ECFR Alumni · Associate Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
Horn of Africa: Sudan/South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea; Red Sea political/security/economic aspects; mediation/conflict resolution; humanitarianism
Languages
English, German, Arabic, French (conversational)
Biography
Theodore Murphy was an associate senior policy fellow at the European Council for Foreign Relations. He can be reached at [email protected].
Murphy managed emergency response missions for Doctors Without Borders, in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Sudan. He has published and lectured on humanitarian issues writ large and specifically in the context of the Greater War on Terror. At Amnesty International, Murphy coordinated all research and publications on Sudan as well as media appearances. Writing for the International Crisis Group, Murphy focused on the dynamics in the Chad/Darfur region contributing to public reports on these issues.
From 2007-2011, Murphy worked in conflict resolution/mediation with the United Nations and in the non-governmental sector in the Horn of Africa and Middle East. He served as Expert Advisor to the AU/UN mediation team in Darfur in 2007-08. In 2011, Murphy was appointed by the UN Secretary General to the Panel of Experts for Libya where he served in the post of Regional Expert. As a Course Director and Fellow for the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Murphy designed and led accredited training for diplomats, military, and multilateral staff on the topic of Engagement with Non State Actors.
Working closely with the German MFA, from 2012 onwards, Murphy oversaw mediation initiatives throughout the Horn of Africa. Amongst others, he negotiated an internationally recognized political agreement in Darfur and supported efforts towards creating a Red Sea Forum.
Murphy holds degrees from McGill University and the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) London.
Sudan after Hamdouk: Three steps Europeans should now take
Following the prime minister’s resignation, Europeans should now attempt to avert the military from further repression, engage the broader civilian constituency, and seek a new form of mediation
Khartoum’s autocratic enabler: Russia in Sudan
Western leaders can prevent Sudan’s military from drifting further into dependence on the Kremlin. To achieve this, they will need to take a more assertive approach to supporting the country’s protest movement and dealing with its military
Europe’s stance on Sudan: Why backing the prime minister may not equate to backing democracy
Divergences are growing between the demands of Sudan’s powerful protest movement and the approach taken by the international community. Both can offer solutions, but they need to move quickly
Sudan coup attempt: How Europe can defend Sudan’s transition to democracy
Sudan’s civilian protest movement is fighting for democracy. Europe can play a decisive role, but to do so its condemnation must come with consequences
The EU’s Global Gateway and a new foundation for partnerships in Africa
The EU should conceive of the Global Gateway and the international aspect of the European Green Deal as mutually reinforcing parts of a single strategy. This would make Europe a key partner in Africa’s green transformation – to the benefit of both continents
3
May
Africa
Rebalancing security and governance in the Sahel: Possible avenues for German intervention
This event is part of the German Forum on Security Policy #DFS2021
Somalia’s election impasse: A crisis of state building
The EU can unblock the so-called “electoral impasse” paralysing Somalia by rejecting the involvement of the outgoing president. But it must also set out a new framework to help the country move forward
25
Jan
Africa
Africa-Europe Relations in 2021
The roundtable will focus on the state of the Africa-Europe relationship with its challenges and opportunities, and the role that Southern Europe could play in the process
How Europe can work with Africa amid the global scramble for vaccines
China is posed to reap geopolitical gain via vaccine diplomacy if Europe does not prioritise Africa
Publications
Strategic interdependence: Europe’s new approach in a world of middle powers
Middle powers are shaping a fragmented world for which Europe is ill prepared. To protect its interests and values, the EU needs a foreign policy strategy that emphasises its wide range of interdependencies
A new transatlantic bargain: An action plan for transformation, not restoration
The Trump years galvanised Europeans’ efforts to strengthen their own sovereignty; they now need to agree concrete offers they can make to the new administration
Articles
Value-added and value lost: The macroeconomic limits of China’s Africa strategy
China’s overcapacity has hit Europe’s economies hard, but it is also damaging Africa’s. With both continents suffering, Africa and Europe can make common cause in confronting this mutual challenge
Trading bases: The Red Sea tinderbox and the maritime economy
Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes expose how actors beyond the great powers can weaponise an interdependent global economy. To help overcome this threat, Europeans should advocate cooperation between the US and China
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
Neither America nor China: How Europeans can shape a new order with the global south
Resisting the drift into US-China duopoly will be welcome among states of the global south – and will strengthen Europe’s relations across the board
Russia under pressure: How Europe and the US are upping the ante in Africa
European and US support for African representation on the UNSC exposes the emptiness of Russia’s rhetoric on Africa and the global order. European leaders should take every opportunity to advance the issue of a permanent African seat or seats
Principles for global order: How Europeans and the global south can shape the international order together
The experience of 2022 is a sharp reminder to Europeans that the states of the global south want to reform existing international arrangements. They should begin to negotiate on how this could look
Lone changer: Germany, Mali, and Russian influence in Africa’s arc of instability
Russia is exploiting weaknesses in Europe’s relationships with states across Africa. Germany will need to set a precedent in Mali if it is to respond to this challenge effectively
Podcasts
The future of the Red Sea
Mark Leonard welcomes Cinzia Bianco and Theodore Murphy to discuss the crisis in the Red Sea and its escalation potential
Africa and the changing global order
Jeremy Shapiro welcomes Adebayo Olukoshi, Brian Kagoro, and Theodore Murphy to talk about Africa and the global order
Podcast special: Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death
Mark Leonard welcomes Theo Murphy, Pavel Slunkin, Kadri Liik, and Kirill Shamiev to shed light on the possible consequences of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death
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?
Europe’s new transatlantic bargain for Biden’s America
When Biden enters the White House, he will look for a Europe that brings solutions rather than problems. Europeans should show they can be an equal partner & offer him a new transatlantic bargain
Events
6
May
Africa
African Voices: African reforms and priorities for Climate Finance
The lack of affordable finance for climate projects in Africa is a key barrier for the continent to reach its adaptation and mitigation goals. It is estimated that African countries will require 2.5 trillion USD in external financing between 2020-2030 to implement their nationally determined contributions under the Paris agreement. Current flows fall far short…
19
Mar
Africa
Sudan crisis: humanitarian response in the lead-up to the Paris Summit
Sudan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Ethnic killing plagues Darfur once again, millions have been displaced, and now a famine is looming. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces shows no sign of abating and with all eyes fixed on Gaza and Ukraine, the humanitarian response is falling critically…
4
Mar
Africa
The aftermath of Yaya Dillo’s death: implications for Chad and Sudan
On 28 February, Chadian opposition leader Yaya Dillo was killed in a shootout with security forces. He had been accused of leading an attack against the National State Security Agency (ANSE), an allegation he denied. Dillo, leader of the Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF), was a strong contender for the presidential elections scheduled for 6 May 2024. Tensions have been running…
19
Feb
Africa
The security situation in the Red Sea
In 2020, the covid-19 pandemic laid bare the vulnerability of global sea trade to external shocks. A year later, the Suez Canal blockage sounded the alarm on the Red Sea’s role as a crucial chokepoint for that trade. Now, Houthi attacks on the Red Sea chokepoint show how a new form of security threat can wield an outsize…
15
Feb
Africa
South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice
On 29 December 2023, South Africa filed its first-ever application before the International Court of Justice in response to the situation in the Gaza Strip, taking the international community by surprise. In January 2024, the ICJ rendered a verdict on 6 provisional measures for the State of Israel. These measures sought to…
27
Nov
Africa
African Voices: Reaching Sustainable Funding for Climate Adaptation in Africa
The climate adaptation needs of Africa are not being met and a lack of affordable and consistent finance is a key cause. Between 2019-2020, Africa received only 11.4 billion USD in adaptation investments and estimates suggest that there will be a funding shortfall of 453 billion USD in adaptation needs for Africa…
Africa
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
Africa
Making multilateralism work for Africa
This event takes place in the context of the 10th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa
Africa
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
Africa
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
In his op-ed, Theodore Murphy argues why European policymakers need to short-circuit Sudan’s warring parties’ attempts to manipulate aid
Ameer Chughtai and Theodore Murphy on mediation efforts in Sudan
It’s not very much about Africa, it’s using Africa to increase Russia’s position on the global stage. There’s probably a couple of different objectives they have, but very low down on the list for Ru
Theodore Murphy comments on the Russia-Africa summit
It’s not very much about Africa, it’s using Africa to increase Russia’s position on the global stage. There’s probably a couple of different objectives they have, but very low down on the list
Theodore Murphy comments on the Russia-Africa summit
An alternative Grain Deal allows Putin to claim he continues to put the agro-commodity needs of Africa first, while bypassing Ukraine
Theodore Murphy comments on food security relations between Russia and Africa