The Russian attack on Ukraine changes the European perspective on Africa. Cooperation should become closer, says Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an exclusive interview with DW.
It was the Chancellor's first trip to Africa, and the destinations were deliberately chosen. “Democracy, the rule of law and issues that are important to us are not just something that is associated with the so-called Western countries,” said Olaf Scholz in an interview with DW correspondent Michaela Küfner in Johannesburg. “South Africa is a democracy, so is Senegal and Niger. That's why I visited them and I think it's important that we continue to work together and say that if we work together, the world has a good future.”
What sounds very general at first takes on greater meaning when viewed in the context of the war in Ukraine. The Russian invasion changed perspectives around the world. “It was very good to have discussions with the heads of state and government and to understand that they have a very similar view of the world and that they also share the will to work together,” emphasizes Scholz.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
Strengthening multilateralism
This year Germany holds the presidency of the G7, the seven most important democratic economic nations. Strengthening democracies worldwide should become a focus of the joint work. In addition to Indonesia, India and Argentina, the Federal Government has also invited Senegal and South Africa to the G7 summit in Germany at the end of June. Senegal chairs the African Union, and South Africa is Germany's most important partner country in sub-Saharan Africa. The trade volume amounts to 20.3 billion euros, which is about the same as that with Brazil or India. South Africa is the only country on the African continent that is a member of the G20 group of leading economic powers.
“In my opinion, there will be many very influential countries in the world in the next few decades, not just Russia, China, the United States and Europe,” Scholz told DW. Democratic states must share responsibility. “This is the basis for a multilateral world where we not only see many different countries influential, but countries working together for a better future.”
Avert famine
In contrast to autocratic states such as Russia and China, which have been expanding their influence in Africa for some time. Russia mainly on the military sphere, also with arms deliveries. The consequences became apparent at the beginning of March, when the UN General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine with a large majority, but numerous African states abstained. States that Germany now wants to approach and that the federal government wants to make more of an effort for.
The Bundeswehr trains Nigerien armed forces in the fight against Islamist extremists
Russia is blocking grain exports from Ukraine, the granary of the world. As a result, many millions of tons of food could soon be missing in Africa and trigger a famine there. Scholz emphasized that Germany was “firmly determined” to help “suffering countries”. “We are working to support the World Food Program, we are starting an initiative together against the bottlenecks that are coming.” Also together with the United Nations. “And we're trying to convince any other country that has the means to do it with us.”
LNG from Senegal
While Africa is dependent on help in the fight against hunger, the continent also has a lot to offer: raw material deposits such as gas, rare metals and uranium. A plant for the liquefaction of natural gas is currently being built in Senegal, and South Africa is playing a pioneering role in the production of hydrogen. Cheap gas and oil from Russia have so far blocked the German view of Africa's potential. That has now changed, which is one of the reasons why the German government wants to promote cooperation with Africa.
Olaf Scholz and Senegalese President Macky Sall visiting a solar power plant in Dakar
A cooperation that is more than development aid, but tangible economic cooperation. However, much of this is still in the future and will not be able to solve the current energy crisis in the short term. “We have a very difficult situation when we look at fuel prices,” warns Scholz. “It is obvious that it will not be possible to subsidize them, not even on a global level.”
Appeal to the producing countries
The Federal Chancellor confirmed to DW that the Together with the USA, the EU is looking for ways to stop spiraling prices on the energy market. “We are now discussing with all these oil and gas producing countries and trying to persuade them to increase their capacity so that it would help the world market.”