Spain and Sub-Saharan Africa
On 25 September 2023, INCIPE held the virtual event entitled Spain and Sub-Saharan Africa, with the participation of Alicia Rico, Director General for Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. The meeting was presented by the ambassador and secretary general of INCIPE, Manuel Alabart. After the presentation, a round of questions was opened, moderated by Vicente Garrido, Director General of INCIPE.
Alicia Rico began by explaining that we are at a critical moment in Sub-Saharan Africa, but that at the same time it is a region that is becoming increasingly important, both for our foreign policy and on the global stage. She went on to stress that the region is being affected by a series of crises, such as the economic, climate and governance crises, but that at the same time Africa as a whole has never had a stronger and clearer voice on the international stage. She also stresses that the global south as a whole is calling for a reform of the global governance system and the international financial architecture.
The III Africa Plan, carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she explains, represented a paradigm shift, also in the European Union as a whole, from considering the sub-Saharan African region as a mere recipient of development aid, to seeing the great opportunities it offers. The European Green Deal agenda also highlights the importance of the continent when it comes to critical minerals for renewable energy and the development of the technology industry.
To help ensure that economic growth and sustainable development efforts go in the right direction, Spain has set four strategic objectives in the region: peace and security, sustainable development together with stable economic growth, institutional strengthening, and safe mobility. As a result, Rico explains, Spain has contributed greatly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund, and at the same time is pushing for reform of the international development banks and greater democratisation of the international financial institutions.
Africa is under great demographic pressure. It needs a structural transformation of its economy, so we must help the continent to industrialise. To this end, Spain, in the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is going to organise a high-level meeting with the African Union on transformative investments focused on job creation.
In addition, the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade approved the Horizon Africa strategy with financial instruments to support Spanish companies’ projects in the region. Another instrument at EU level is the Global Gateway investment package, which is key to the energy transition and digital transformation of Sub-Saharan Africa.
On the other hand, in the last decade the phenomenon of terrorism has been spreading in the continent. This situation is becoming very present especially in the Sahel region, where attacks have increased by 500% since 2015. This is behind, Rico argues, the governance crisis that is developing in the region, with eight coups since 2020. True democratic governance and reliable economic governance must be strengthened; and, she stresses, one of the big problems in Sub-Saharan Africa is the lack of inclusive growth and wealth distribution.
With regard to the climate crisis, Rico highlights the African Climate Summit that took place in Nairobi this September, which showed that for the first time Africa wants to speak with one voice in this area. Rico also reminds us that we cannot forget that we need African countries for our own green agenda.
At the end of the session, a debate took place, in which participants asked questions on issues such as the orderly departure of French soldiers from Niger, and how Spain has a great strategic interest in the stabilisation of this area. The relationship between poverty and emigration, mainly due to the lack of opportunities for young Africans, and the need for a global approach that addresses the root causes, were also discussed. In addition, the African markets were discussed as an opportunity and how Spanish companies are taking advantage of it.
Elena Ferro
INCIPE
