In September 2023, the African Union (AU) became the newest member of the G20. It is an important, long overdue step and finally does justice to the importance of the association of 54 African states in the context of geopolitical power structures. In an increasingly multipolar world that is simultaneously facing enormous environmental, energy, health and security policy challenges, it is not only in Africa’s own interests, but also in the interests of Germany and Europe to find solutions to these diverse challenges together with African partners on the international stage.

2023 is also the year in which the AU celebrates the 60th anniversary of the founding of its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and takes stock of its successes and challenges. With Agenda 2063, the AU created the reference framework for Africa’s development goals ten years ago, to which German Africa policy also refers thanks to several processes of self-reflection. The new Africa strategy published by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in February, the revision of the Federal Government’s Africa policy guidelines by the Federal Foreign Office and the adaptation of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s Africa concept are just a few examples of this. These were, of course, topics that have occupied the German Africa Foundation over the past twelve months and are addressed in various ways in this yearbook.

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As a bridge builder, the German Africa Foundation has also endeavored in the past year to make its contribution to mutual understanding and to deepening relations between Africa, Germany and Europe.

This yearbook is intended to give you an insight into our work, enriched by additional guest contributions.

I wish you a pleasant and engaging read.

– Dr Uschi Eid, President of the German Africa Foundation

Please note: The yearbook is only available in German. We apologise for the inconvenience.