Exploring Africa’s Strategic Partners, BRICS, EU, USA

In the midst of extreme poverty, aid cuts, stalled reform of the international financial architecture, Africa has rapidly diversified her foreign relations.

Africa lies at the heart of nearly all global crises extreme poverty, climate change, inequality, and a cornerstone for opportunities from immense growth potential in renewable energy, technological advancement, to manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing.  

In the midst of aid cuts by major donors, disrupted international trade, stalled reform of the international financial architecture, conflicts around the world and extreme poverty on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa, the continent has rapidly diversified her foreign relations. Over year, Africa has become a focal point for intense international competition and strategic interests. Several countries including Türkiye have expanded their influence in Africa, beyond traditional spheres of engagement, with a robust foreign policy that seeks to maximize its global standing and strategic autonomy. Ankara has dramatically expanded its diplomatic presence expanding its diplomatic footprint to 44 embassies across Africa and hosts 37 African missions.

Other countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are also stepping up pace in Africa.

Africa-EU

Africa’s historical European occupiers continue to search for new allies as their credibility in many parts of Africa wane, this in addition to major parts of the Arab world, especially since it blatantly failed to condemn Israel’s genocide and impunity in Gaza.

Whereas Africa continue to bend towards alternative institutions such as the BRICS, that are not aligned to Western power blocs, the continent remains on hand to the European Union (EU) for as long as it can support the continent’s quest for fairer business transactions, representation in multilateral institutions like the UN Security Council, IMF and World Bank, and willing to adjust its own post-colonial legacy.

To reclaim its ground in a world of fierce competition, Europe is adopting different approaches including the EU Global Gateway, a €300 billion strategy aimed at setting up investment programs in Africa.

Under the EU Global Gateway initiative, high-impact projects across Africa have kicked off, notably, the €2 billion Lobito Corridor, linking the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Angola, the €2 billion Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies initiative (MAV+), to scale up local vaccine production and ensure equitable access to safe and affordable health products in Africa, the Africa-Europe Green Energy Initiative which is working to provide at least 50 GW of new renewable energy generation capacity and to give access to electricity to 100 million people by 2030, among others.

The strategy driven by their appetite for the continent’s natural resources, untapped agricultural sector as well as the opportunity for investments and transfer of technology and knowledge targeting the growing middle class which is estimated to include more than 300 million people, envisions advancing the bloc’s economic, geopolitical and security interests, using development aid to cushion venture capital.

In a more transactional approach than in the past, the grouping has indicated it intends to focus on promotion of its own interests in combating irregular migration, access to critical minerals, energy security, and advancing its strategic autonomy. Partially, this is reflective of a shift in European public opinion, which is skeptical towards generic solidarity supported by grants.

In a rapidly changing global order, the stakes are high for both continents, the EU’s aim is to demonstrate that it can be a more effective and reliable partner, but its ability to maintain such a position depends on the quality of its relationship with African counterparts.

While the Global Gateway is appreciated on the African side, there has not been consensus on priority projects, which has been perceived as defined by EU rather than jointly shaped by both parties.

If the Global Gateway is to be the driving force of the EU’s partnership with Africa, projects must be designed with nd aligned to African priorities, they should not be Europe-driven. Involving African systems and local people shape the actions needed to make projects genuinely impactful. Joint initiatives deepen mutual trust and solid relationship between Europe and Africa and as well address shared priorities of both continents on their partnership of equal and mutual interests.

Africa - G20

The group of 20 (G20), the gathering uniting the world's major developed and developing economies made history in 2023 by bringing the African Union (AU) into the club as a permanent member.

U.S. President Donald Trump, the next in line to take the presidency of the G20 and host the group’s summit next year, boycotted this year’s summit in South Africa. He also announced that the United States would not invite South Africa to the 2026 G20 summit in Washington and will push to remove Pretoria from the grouping altogether.

What began as a trivial disagreement over a false narrative, has become a diplomatic earthquake shaking global economies. It started with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visiting the white house in Washington DC in May, and the U.S. President Donald Trump confronting him with allegations of “white genocide” a claim rooted in far-right conspiracy theories. Accusations were dismissed by Pretoria, discredited by independent researchers, and even contradicted by parts of Trump’s own national security apparatus. The tense exchange in the oval office set stage for the geopolitical rupture, driving theG20 towards the direction of shaping big economies for years to come.

Slap in the Face of Africa

South Africa is a leading voice for Africa and one of the few African countries routinely consulted on international affairs, ranging from security, human rights, trade, climate change to UN reforms.

Its historic anti-apartheid legacy delivers it in the global moral politics, which Africa has spent decades striving for. The continent strives for a more inclusive multipolar world, where it is not merely at the table, but as an influential player in setting the agenda of the world order. Trump’s decision to chastise South Africa, is not only a diplomatic slap for Africa, but sends a message that African representation is conditional, reversible and disposable.  

Banning South Africa from the G20 not only undermines the broader principle behind the formation of the grouping but also hurts America’s long-term interests that seeks partnership with the continent that the entire world is currently courting. A weakened G20 only paves way for China’s influence which currently has limited influence in the grouping and risks pushing Africa deeper into Beijing’s embrace.

The United States often describes Africa as central to maritime security in the Indian Ocean, crucial for countering China’s global influence and home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, but Trump’s decisions run counter to each of these strategic desires and reinforces the idea that Western-led institutions are inconsistent and makes alternatives like BRICS appear more necessary.

The prevailing rupture could strengthen the foundations of a new global order, where membership in global institutions doesn’t depend on the mood of bigwigs, but on principles of equality, inclusiveness and fairness in shaping the world order. What Africa should do now is strengthen AU structures and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the world’s largest free trade area among 55 AU countries aiming to integrate 1.4 billion people into a single market worth an estimated $3.4 trillion.  Africa should also continue engaging western power blocs on equal terms.

BRICS

BRICS summit presents an opportunity for a continent that has long been sidelined in the global geopolitical order. With several African nations now part of the bloc, it is another platform for the continent to amplify its voice in a shifting geopolitical terrain, where it has been long excluded from the global decision-making processes.

Three African nations; South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, are currently full members of BRICS, while Nigeria, Uganda, and Algeria are close partners awaiting full membership. Several more have expressed interest in joining the bloc.

South Africa ws the pioneer African country to join BRICS in 2011 after receiving an official invitation from the group in 2010. As a country that accounts for one third of Sub-Saharan African economy, it constituted an entry point for the grouping to access Africa’s one billion consumer market.

When South Africa joined BRICS, it was a signal that Pretoria is an influential regional power and gateway to Africa, which could also defend the interests of the entire continent. The grouping became truly global, stretching from Latin America through Eurasia to Africa. Without South Africa, BRICS loses its African balance and its claim to speak for the Global South weakens.

Ethiopia and Egypt’s joining of the group has opened more opportunities for widened interstate ties, as well as new financial agreements that could potentially lead to a reduction in financial risks and attract large investments to the region.

With only three African regional giants in BRICS is not representational of the entire continent, further expanding African presence is paramount. Counties like Nigeria, one of the ‘Next 11’ emerging economies should be of concern. Although it has expressed its wish to be part of the grouping, it has not actively worked towards its membership, giving more attention to its internal challenges especially insecurity.

References

Ramesh T (2016), How representative are BRICS

Maria L. (2019), BRICS in a world of regions

Africa and the BRICS, a Win-Win Partnership https://blogs.afdb.org/fr/afdb-championing-inclusive-growth-across-africa/post/africa-and-the-brics-a-win-win-partnership-12098

Council of the European Union; G20 summit, South Africa

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2025/11/22-23/

Africa Union; The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)  https://au.int/en/african-continental-free-trade-area