Foreign policy - Baerbock: Autocrats exploit Europe's errors in Africa
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will compete with Russia and China for partnerships among African countries on equal terms. Authoritarian regimes are increasingly reaching out for power and law, criticized the Green politician in a speech at the Goethe-Institut in the Senegalese capital Dakar on Monday evening, referring to Moscow and Beijing. "They also try to exploit the wounds that Europe has left in the world, right here in Africa," added Baerbock.
If Russia does this and at the same time conducts an imperial war, it is grotesque. "But we in Germany, as so-called 'Westerners', must also ask ourselves, even if it is deeply unfair from our perspective: Why this communication?", considered the Foreign Minister. One must deal with the perception in many countries that Europe only aims for dependency instead of co-decision. One should make offers for cooperation that benefit both sides, Baerbock said.
Baerbock cultivates important European partnerships in the region
The Minister gave her speech on the topic of the new Goethe-Institut in Dakar. In the new building, emphasis was placed on sustainability and climate protection. Key topics are, in addition to language courses, decolonization, regional development, and culture and creative industries. The total costs amount to around 4 million Euro.
Baerbock continues her West Africa visit in the Ivory Coast on this Tuesday. Consultations with President Alassane Ouattara and Foreign Minister Léon Kacou Adom are planned in Abidjan, the seat of government of the Ivory Coast.
Baerbock on military training in anti-terror fight
The Foreign Minister will inform herself about the training of soldiers and security forces at an International Academy for Counter-Terrorism approximately 35 kilometers outside Abidjan. There, she will be shown a simulated liberation of a Sahel village from terrorists.
Germany is contributing to the financing of the infrastructure of the institution with a donation of 2.5 million Euro and has provided approximately the same amount for a ship berth. In the academy, civil, police, and military personnel are trained primarily in anti-terror tactics and hostage rescue. The German special unit GSG9 of the Federal Police also trains there regularly.
Concerns about the spread of Islamic terrorism in the region are growing
The Ivory Coast, with a population of around 30 million, is the economic heavyweight of French-speaking West Africa, mainly due to its status as the world's largest cocoa producer. The country, like its neighbors Ghana, Benin, and Togo, is threatened by the spread of Islamic terrorism from Mali and Burkina Faso, where the terror groups are particularly active in border areas.
While France plans to reduce its troop numbers at its bases in the region, the USA is strengthening its military presence to support the coastal states. According to media reports, a new US base in the Ivory Coast is also under discussion.
Political cracks in the region
Oettinger visits Ivory Coast, one of the most important partners and the largest democracy in French-speaking West Africa. This could be a signal to the putschist governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, who want to leave the Ecowas regional block and are driving the regional division economically and security-politically. Russia benefits from this, positioning itself as an anti-colonialist and military partner for them, while former anti-terror partners and even UN troops have to withdraw.
Concerns about further military coups
Even in the largely democratic Ivory Coast, many are asking why the 82-year-old President Alassane Ouattara is governing against the constitution in a third term and is lying about a fourth, without international criticism becoming loud. Along the coast, observers are growing concerned about the possibility of a next military coup, as within four years, six former French colonies in West and Central Africa have experienced coups.
- Annalena Baerbock emphasized the importance of approaching Africa with partnerships on equal terms, including countries like China and Russia.
- Baerbock's speech at the Goethe-Institut in Dakar focused on the new facility's emphasis on sustainability and climate protection.
- After Dakar, Baerbock's West Africa visit continues in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where she will meet with President Alassane Ouattara and Foreign Minister Léon Kacou Adom.
- In Abidjan, Baerbock will visit an International Academy for Counter-Terrorism, highlighting Germany's donation to the institution's infrastructure.
- Concerns about Islamic terrorism spreading from Mali and Burkina Faso have grown in Ivory Coast and neighboring countries.
- France is planning to reduce troops at its bases in the region, while the USA is strengthening its military presence to support coastal states, including the possible establishment of a new base in Ivory Coast.
- Russia, seeking to position itself as an anti-colonialist partner, has benefited from the political cracks in the region, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
- The largely democratic Ivory Coast, led by President Ouattara, faces criticism over his violation of the constitution by governing in a third term.
- Observers in the Ivory Coast and along the coast are concerned about the possibility of a future military coup, as such occurrences have become more frequent in West and Central African former French colonies.
- China and Russia's involvement in African partnerships have been criticized for attempting to exploit Europe's past mistakes in the continent.
- Baerbock emphasized the need to approach foreign policy and cooperation in Africa with offers that benefit both sides, strictly avoiding dependency on European assistance.
