As competition from China, Russia, and the United States intensifies and the war in Iran disrupts energy supplies in the Middle East, Europe is gradually moving away from traditional development aid models in favor of partnerships based on mutual interests with Africa.
This recomposition opens up both internal and external opportunities, according to Lazarus Chakwera, former president of Malawi.
“As we develop, what was suitable yesterday may not be today. That’s why it is necessary to have an ongoing conversation to determine the best way forward for a win-win situation,” he said.
He emphasizes that this new approach must occur at multiple levels, noting that intra-European trade is still much higher than trade between African countries.
“We believe that economic integration on the continent should be encouraged as much as we have bilateral agreements with nations outside of this continent,” he continued.
“Therefore, whether it’s free trade within the continent, we must find ways to facilitate the faster implementation of these agreements,” he added.
EU banks on African gas to secure imports
In this context of increased rivalry, several European officials believe it is necessary to thoroughly review the relationship with Africa in order not to lose influence.
“I believe that today we need to rethink our policy with African countries and move away from this outdated development aid policy that does not take into account concrete realities,” said Younous Omarjee, a French euro-deputy from the Left party and vice president of the European Parliament.
Speaking at the Africa Political Outlook forum in Brussels, he emphasized the need for Europe to clearly assert its interests, noting that “the development and prosperity of the African continent determine the development and prosperity of Europe.”
“We have interests in Africa, and African countries have interests in their partnership with Europe,” he added.
Energy is a key focus of this repositioning. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe has significantly reconfigured its sources of supply.
While the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran disrupt other routes for oil and gas transportation, Africa’s importance in the global energy market has increased due to its geographical proximity and relatively safe navigation routes.
To replace lost supplies, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a strengthening of energy cooperation with Algeria, covering more than 30% of Italy’s natural gas needs.
Nigeria also remains a supplier for Southern Europe: over half of Portugal’s liquefied natural gas imports come from Nigeria.
According to several analysts, this energy partnership could profoundly transform investment flows and economic prospects in Africa. However, structural obstacles remain, particularly in infrastructure and security.
In March, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas visited the West African states of Nigeria and Ghana, marking a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the two regions.
In Nigeria, she signed a migration readmission agreement and announced a €288 million support program covering sectors such as health, agriculture, finance, climate, and digital infrastructure.
In Ghana, she concluded the EU’s first security and defense partnership with the country, focusing on counterterrorism and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“This partnership allows us to collaborate more closely in areas important for the security of our citizens, both in Europe and in Ghana,” she declared, describing the agreement as the first of its kind between the EU and an African country.
Towards the end of traditional aid era
These initiatives come amid a decline in European influence in West Africa, following a series of coups between 2020 and early 2026 in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Gabon, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and Madagascar.
For decades, Europe has been a key partner for Africa, providing development aid and shaping governance frameworks.
But according to the report “The State of African Governance: Forces of the Future” published by the African Political Outlook, this approach is now a thing of the past.
Mouctar Bah, President of the Brussels-Africa Hub, believes that European policymakers are slow to grasp the ongoing changes.
“People still live in the past. They don’t see the future,” he said.
In 2024, trade between the EU and Africa amounted to €355 billion, with the EU remaining Africa’s top trading partner, followed closely by China, according to EU data.
The EU has signed six economic partnership agreements with 15 sub-Saharan African countries and four association agreements with North African countries.
According to market expert Isabelle Herbert-Collet, the new approach must be more locally anchored.
“It’s not just about investments, but also about envisioning the right products and services and facilitating intercultural exchanges,” she concluded.
