As competition from China, Russia, and the United States intensifies and the war in Iran disrupts Middle Eastern energy supplies, Europe is gradually shifting away from traditional development aid models in favor of partnerships based on mutual interests with Africa.
This reconfiguration 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’s necessary to have an ongoing conversation to determine the best way forward so the situation becomes a win-win situation,” he stated.
He believes this new approach should be implemented at several levels, emphasizing that intra-European exchanges remain significantly higher than those between African countries.
“We say 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 about free trade on the continent, we must find ways to facilitate the faster implementation of these agreements,” he added.
EU banking on African gas to secure imports
In this context of increased competition, several European officials believe it is necessary to thoroughly reassess the relationship with Africa to avoid losing influence.
“I believe we must now review our policy with African countries and move away from this outdated development aid policy that doesn’t reflect concrete realities,” said French MEP Younous Omarjee of the Left party and Vice President of the European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 define its interests, noting that “the development and prosperity of the African continent determine the development and prosperity of Europe.”
“So, we have interests in Africa, and African countries have interests in their partnership with Europe,” he added.
Energy is a major focus of this repositioning. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe has significantly reconfigured its sources of energy supply.
While the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupt other oil and gas routes, Africa’s importance in the global energy market has increased due to its geographic proximity and relatively safe navigation routes.
To replace lost supplies, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced an enhanced energy cooperation with Algeria, which already covers over 30% of Italy’s natural gas needs.
Nigeria also remains a key supplier for Southern Europe: over half of Portugal’s liquefied natural gas imports come from Nigeria.
According to several analysts, this energy partnership could deeply transform investment flows and economic prospects in Africa. However, structural obstacles remain, particularly in terms of infrastructure and security.
In March, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas visited the West African countries of Nigeria and Ghana, marking a significant step 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-ever partnership with the country on security and defense, focusing on counterterrorism and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“This partnership allows us to work more closely in areas important for the security of our citizens, both in Europe and in Ghana,” she stated, 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 to Africa, providing development aid and shaping governance frameworks.
However, according to the report “State of African Governance: Forces of the Future” by the African Political Outlook, this approach now belongs to the past.
Mouctar Bah, president of the Brussels-Africa Hub, believes European policymakers are slow to grasp the ongoing changes.
“People are still living in the past. They don’t see the future,” he stated.
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 based on a more local foundation.
“It’s not just about investments but also about envisioning the right products and services and facilitating intercultural exchanges,” she concluded.
