EU seeks to protect its ties in Africa amid growing geopolitical rivalry with China and Russia

The European Union is confronting significant challenges in maintaining its long-standing ties with Africa,as it faces rising competition from China and Russia in the region,according to experts.

While the EU has been Africa’s biggest export market for years,it has lost ground to these emerging powers,particularly in trade and security. In recent years,China and Russia have made inroads into Africa,offering economic and military support that the EU has struggled to match. “Europe is retreating from Africa in what seems likely to be the greatest shift of all in the 21st century’s new era of tectonic geo-political change,” says Giles Merritt,the founder of Friends of Europe.

The EU’s relationship with Africa,rooted in historical ties dating back to European colonization,is now clouded by disinformation and public mistrust. EU officials have acknowledged the difficulty of countering false narratives that paint the EU,especially former colonial powers like France,in a negative light. This challenge has been compounded by recent military coups in Mali,Burkina Faso,and Niger,where public support for anti-Western movements has grown,thus undermining EU’s influence.

The bloc has launched initiatives to combat this issue,recognizing it as a priority for the European External Action Service (EEAS). The EU is also exploring new ways to engage African countries through local authorities,emphasizing the importance of regional partnerships in addressing Africa’s rapidly urbanizing landscape and rising geopolitical challenges. In response to the growing presence of China and Russia,the EU has been urged to refocus its approach to Africa,distinguishing between aid and investment and creating more strategic partnerships.

Despite these challenges,the EU remains the largest provider of official development aid and continues to promote values of democracy,freedom,and prosperity. However,with geopolitical competition intensifying,the EU faces a delicate balancing act in safeguarding its influence and addressing Africa’s evolving needs.