German foreign minister heads to Africa on three-nation trip
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is travelling to Africa Monday on his third visit to the continent this year, beginning in Mauritania and then moving on to Nigeria and South Africa.
The diplomatic tour comes as Germany and Europe look to strengthen political and economic ties with African countries amid US President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies and broader pullback from multilateral cooperation.
Ahead of the trip, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said Europe and Africa are closely linked not only geographically, but also politically, economically and in terms of security issues.
Wadephul will be accompanied by a business delegation, with the trip also aimed at identifying opportunities for German companies and promoting private investment to support economic growth.
The minister previously visited Kenya and Ethiopia in January and Morocco in April.
Mauritania seen as a bastion of stability in crisis-hit region
In the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, Wadephul plans to hold talks with President Mohamed Ghazouani and Foreign Minister Mohamed Merzoug.
He is also due to visit the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, where discussions are expected to focus on preventing extremism and promoting deradicalization amid ongoing violence by Islamist militant groups across the Sahel region.
With a population of about 5 million, Mauritania is seen as one of the region’s more stable countries despite its volatile surroundings. It currently hosts at least 320,000 refugees who have fled neighbouring Mali.
The last German foreign minister to visit Mauritania was Frank-Walter Steinmeier in 2006, before he became Germany’s current president. Former development minister Svenja Schulze visited the country in 2023.
Source: dpa