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Africa

The African continent is undergoing profound transformations. Traditional and hybrid threats, growing violent extremism, structural and climate-related vulnerabilities, and migratory pressures represent some of the challenges faced by the continent.

At the same time, Africa is also witnessing fast-paced political, economic and technological progress. This is radically changing its societies and institutions,  with African countries gaining a new prominence in a multipolar world, as demonstrated by the accession of the African Union (AU) to the G20 in September 2023.

External shocks, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, have accelerated pre-existing trends.

The relationship between the European Union and African countries and institutions is also evolving, reflecting the new and more competitive geopolitical realities.

The Joint Communication ‘Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa’ calls for a strengthened EU strategic alliance with Africa. It aims to enhance cooperation on global and multilateral affairs based on a clear understanding of respective and mutual interests and responsibilities. The Strategy also highlights shared commitments between the AU and EU, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063. ‘A Joint Vision for 2030’, adopted in 2022, reiterates the need for a closer partnership for a common future and identifies key priorities in four domains: prosperity and sustainability, peace and security, migration and mobility and multilateralism.

EUISS research on Africa

The EUISS provides innovative research, analysis and advice to support EU and Member States’ strategies and policies towards Africa. Our objective is to contribute to forging a stronger partnership between the two continents.

The EUISS uses its convening power to facilitate knowledge sharing, brainstorming, consensus building and dialogues with stakeholders and local partners, to break new ground on matters affecting Africa-EU relations. The Institute looks at evolving conflict dynamics across the continent, formulating recommendations on how to strengthen the implementation of the EU’s integrated approach.

The EUISS also monitors political, economic and security trends in countries at risk of falling or relapsing into conflict, to make the case for prevention when EU action can be impactful, using strategic foresight methodologies.

Finally, the EUISS studies the African geopolitical landscape and the role of new geopolitical actors projecting their influence in the continent, as well as related emerging challenges, such as cyber risks and hybrid threats.

Flagship initiatives

Chaillot Papers

Four flagship publications exploring the new geo-strategic landscape in Africa:

  • The Africa Atlas ‘maps’ areas of shared interest in the partnership between the EU and the AU and key trends and trajectories by means of visuals and infographics, thus letting data speak through graphics, charts and maps.
  • African Spaces accounts for physical and non-physical spaces where geopolitical competition takes place in the continent.
  • African Futures 2030 uses foresight scenarios to explore the implications of the African Continental Free Trade Area for peace and prosperity.
  • African Strategies analyses the evolution of European and global actors’ strategies towards the continent, as a result of the ‘new scramble for Africa’.

EUISS-COAFR Meetings 

Since January 2019, the EUISS organises regular meetings with the European Council’s Working Party on Africa (COAFR). Sessions are designed to provide delegates of EU Member States with innovative approaches and facilitate knowledge-sharing on selected regions, countries or topics, contributing to Africa-related policy planning and joint analysis.

Conflict Series – Policy Briefs

The Conflict Series examines contemporary conflict situations and conflict-related thematic issues to contribute to enhanced conflict analysis that serves policy planning and policymaking. Several analyses of African conflict situations have been published under the series.

Imagine Africa Series – Policy Briefs

The Imagine Africa Series provided a platform for African experts to discuss potential futures for Africa using strategic foresight scenarios on selected priority areas for Africa-Europe cooperation. Five policy briefs were published under the series and dedicated to the broad theme of ‘people-centred development’. The full list is available here.

African Futures Task Force

From November 2019 to December 2020, the EUISS ran an African Futures Task Force. Its main objective was to explore trends affecting the future of Africa in the next ten years, emphasising challenges and opportunities for policymaking. The task force resulted in the publication of the Chaillot Paper ‘African Futures 2030: free trade, peace and prosperity’ on 9 March 2021.

 

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  • 27May 2021

    On 27 May 2021, the EUISS and the Africa Working Party of the Council of the EU (COAFR) held their twelfth meeting to discuss the new US administration’s foreign policy towards Africa and opportunities for stronger EU/US cooperation.

  • Title of the event and logos of participating organisations
    05May 2021

    On 5 May 2021, the EUISS and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) co-organised a roundtable on ‘Preventing Violent Extremism: New entry points for collective action’ at the 2021 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development.

  • Backdrop of online COAFR meeting indicating date and topic
    29April 2021

    On 29 April 2021, the EUISS and the Africa Working Party of the Council of the EU (COAFR) held their eleventh meeting to discuss the future of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

  • Close-up on the legs of a person wearing sport shoes and walking on a road where a rainbow has been painted on. Photo by Bella The Brave on Unsplash
    14April 2021

    On 15 March 2021, the EUISS and Le Grand Continent jointly organised the first in a series of four launch events of the Chaillot Paper “African Futures 2030: free trade, peace and prosperity”.

  • Blue fiber optics - Photo by JJ Ying on Unsplash
    13April 2021

    This virtual track 1.5 consultation between the European Union and African partners explored what concrete initiatives and actions the EU and Africa could develop in order to strengthen their cooperation in cyberspace while building better partnerships at national, regional and multilateral levels.

  • 25February 2021

    On 25 February 2021, the EUISS and the Africa Working Party of the Council of the EU (COAFR) held their tenth meeting to discuss Climate Conflicts in the Sahel.

  • 22January 2021

    On 22 January, the EUISS live-streamed its yearly foresight event entitled '2021- What's to come?' on YouTube to help us think through the challenges ahead, anticipate disruptions, and be better prepared for the coming year. 

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    15December 2020

    On 15 December 2020, the EUISS and the European Council’s Working Party on Africa (COAFR) held their ninth meeting to discuss Turkey’s involvement in Africa. Members of the European Council’s Working Group on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA) also participated in the discussion.

  • 15October 2020

    The EUISS and the European Council’s Working Party on Africa (COAFR) held their eighth meeting and first virtual teleconference to discuss Russia in Africa. Members of the European Council’s Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) also participated to the discussion.

  • 22September 2020

    The workshop 'Debating stability in North Africa, the Sahel and Horn of Africa: How transnational dynamics and geopolitics impact governance and development' took place in the morning of September 22nd in Pisa, Italy and was jointly organised by the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA), the European University Institute (EUI) and the EUISS. 

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