Malheureusement, ce numéro de la revue de presse n’est actuellement disponible qu’en allemand et en anglais.
African Politics in the New Coalition Agreement
On Wednesday, the CDU, CSU and SPD presented their coalition agreement ‘Responsibility for Germany’. Cooperation with the African continent also plays an important role in the agreement. Africa is mentioned by name in a total of eight places – slightly fewer than in the coalition agreement of the coalition government with the “traffic light coalition”, in which ten mentions were counted, but significantly more frequently than other regions. Accordingly, the strategic importance of the African continent is particularly emphasised in the coalition agreement and it is affirmed that German Africa policy must do justice to this importance. The importance of the partnership with the African Union (AU) is particularly emphasised. The African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is also to continue to be supported – the coalition agreement does not specify what form this support should take.
Another focus of Africa policy is also to be on stabilising the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa, where terrorism and the causes of flight in particular are to be combated. The increasing influence of Russian and Chinese actors on the continent will also be addressed – the aim is to ‘resolutely counter this with [its] partners’.
Relations with Africa are also to be further intensified in the area of foreign trade. To this end, a new Africa strategy is to be developed to pave the way for deepening trade relations with African countries. The economic partnership agreements planned by the previous government with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and the SADC states are to be ratified by the end of this year.
The SPD won the dispute over the continued existence of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ): The ministry will remain in place and also in the hands of the SPD. However, development policy is to be more interest-led in future and more closely interlinked with the private sector. The quota of public development aid, the so-called ODA quota, which previously stood at 0.7% of gross domestic product, is to be reduced – though the extent of the reduction is not specified. To this end, more efficient pooling of financial resources, greater involvement of the private sector and more competition in the awarding of technical cooperation contracts are planned. A joint contact point for foreign trade promotion and development cooperation for the German economy is also planned. With regard to skilled labour migration, the new German government wants to offer simplified procedures for work permits for skilled workers.
In order to strengthen bilateral partnerships with the countries of the so-called Global South, the new government is planning to set up a North-South Commission to promote the establishment of a global network. Experts see this as an opportunity for Germany to develop a response to the upheaval in the international system together with the countries of the Global South – and thus send a clear signal in favour of multilateralism. Maintaining the BMZ is also an important sign that Germany is not joining the current trend of massive cuts in development cooperation and will remain a reliable partner. This is also welcomed by African experts. For example, the Zambian presidential candidate for the African Development Bank, Dr Sam Maimbo, was positive about the continued existence of the BMZ. However, he was critical of the planned development of a new Africa strategy – instead of another strategy paper, he would like to see a concrete implementation plan. Development policy organisations are also relieved, but clearly criticise the planned cuts to development fields and the lack of commitment to the 0.7 percent quota. Other voices, however, doubt that the ODA quota is a suitable steering instrument for capturing the actual allocation of funds in development cooperation. The decisive factor for assessing potential cuts therefore remains the actual federal budget.
The new coalition agreement is generally viewed favourably by the private sector. In particular, the abolition of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains and the elimination of the reporting obligation have been met with approval, including from the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Business organisations see this as strengthening the competitiveness of German companies and reducing the barriers to market entry for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The strong emphasis on the foreign trade significance of the African continent and its strategic importance was also emphasised positively. Criticism, however, has been directed at the lack of specificity in many of the proposed measures. For example, the goals for expanding raw materials partnerships and promoting foreign trade remained vague. The German-African Business Association, among others, criticised the lack of concrete measures to facilitate the immigration of skilled workers. At the same time, it is emphasized that it is precisely these broadly worded passages of the coalition agreement, as well as the announced new Africa economic strategy, that allow room for co-creation and substantive development.
Tensions Between Algeria and Mali
On Monday, Algeria and Mali ordered the closure of their airspace to flights from the other country. This measure was taken last week in response to the shooting down of a Malian drone by the Algerian army near Tinzaouaten in the border region between Algeria and Mali. According to the Algerian Ministry of Defence, the drone violated Algerian airspace. The Malian government rejected this claim and stated that the wreckage of the drone had been found on Malian territory, around 9.5 kilometres south of the border.
As a result of the incident, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger recalled their ambassadors from Algeria for consultations on Sunday. In a joint statement, the three states, which together form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), described the downing of the drone as an ‘irresponsible act’ by Algeria. Algeria responded shortly afterwards by recalling its ambassadors from Mali and Niger and also postponed the posting of its new ambassador to Burkina Faso. In addition, both countries sent letters to the United Nations Security Council to inform them of what had happened. However, this is not a formal request to the Security Council, but rather – as a legal officer from the Protocol Division explains – is intended to initiate a discussion among the members.
The current development not only affects diplomatic relations in the region, but also has economic consequences. For example, the Algerian airline Air Algérie, which recently expanded its route network in the Sahel region, is facing considerable challenges as a result of the airspace restrictions. In the wake of the current tensions, the Malian Ministry of Transport sent a notification to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) containing a so-called Notam (Notice to Airmen). This is an official announcement that describes temporary or permanent changes to the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) and is of central importance for the safe operation of international air traffic. The Notam issued by Mali is aimed at the entire aviation industry and therefore also has a direct impact on Air Algérie’s activities. The airline is now forced to reroute flights or offer refunds to passengers. These measures represent a significant setback, both logistically and financially. The diplomatic crisis is also putting a strain on co-operation between Algeria and Niger in the energy sector. At the beginning of the year, the two countries discussed joint energy supply projects, including possible cooperation on the construction of an oil refinery and a power plant in Niger. The planned Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), which is to connect Nigeria with Algeria via Niger, could also be affected by the current political situation – although it remains to be seen to what extent the tensions will actually affect the project.
The incident has exacerbated the already tense relationship between Algeria and Mali. Since the military coup in Mali in 2020, diplomatic relations between the two countries have been severely strained. In particular, Mali’s withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (Press Review, Week 5/2024) and the termination of the Algiers Peace Agreement last year contributed to a noticeable deterioration in bilateral relations.
In other news
In Niger, Hausa has recently been recognised as the country’s sole national language. This means that French has lost its status as an official language and is now only a working language – a status that English now also has – while Hausa has gained a central role. Unlike French, which is only spoken by around 13% of the Nigerian population, Hausa is the most widely spoken language in the country with almost 75% of the population speaking it. Beyond the country’s borders, Hausa is also widely spoken in the region. The decision was set out in the Charte de la Refondation, which is generally concerned with Niger’s increasing distance from its former colonial power, France. According to analysts, the change in the language hierarchy is seen as a significant step towards the creation of a distinct cultural identity and a break with the colonial past. However, the Charte de la Refondation is not the only measure: Niger recently left the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie – an institution that brings together countries that cultivate the French language. In addition, the names of various streets and monuments in several towns have been changed from French to local languages.
Event information
On Thursday, the exhibition Foundations opened at Haus Kunst Mitte, which can be seen in Berlin-Mitte until 25 July 2025. The group exhibition brings together 15 international artists, including numerous voices from the African diaspora and the Global South. With works by Osi Audu, Adelaide Damoah, Sekai Machache, Nnenna Okore, Ato Ribeiro, Anike Joyce Sadiq, Ghizlane Sahli, Lerato Shadi and Helena Uambembe, among others, Foundations sheds light on fundamental structures of coexistence and examines how history, language and social systems shape our perceptions. It focuses in particular on African-diasporic and African-American positions as well as the ongoing effects of colonialism and the connection between traditional African art forms and contemporary expression. The exhibition raises questions about the role of memory, identity and cultural heritage in global contexts and visualises how personal and collective narratives are perpetuated in a complex web of historical and social dynamics.