African Strategies
This Chaillot Paper analyses the evolution of EU member states' strategies towards sub-Saharan Africa, as well as those of global actors, against the backdrop of systemic changes, including the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. It seeks to identify the points of convergence - and divergence - in member states' strategies, and examines how a coherent, joint EU strategy can be achieved. It also shows that there is significant variation in global powers' strategies towards sub-Saharan Africa, and only limited synergies with European ones. As the EU elaborates a new approach towards and relationship with the continent, in line with its 'strategic pivot' to Africa, it is likely to face adverse competition on a number of economic and geopolitical fronts. But it can also embrace opportunities for enriched international cooperation, reinforcing multilateralism and shaping a more sustainable future.