Botswana

COVID-19 has posed ‘stress test’ for EU-Africa relations

The coronavirus pandemic has been a ‘stress test’ for EU-Africa relations ahead of plans for an ambitious reset of political and trade ties between the two continents this autumn.

Botswana’s virus food prep puts long-term plans on hold

“Botswana has not been spared by the wave of COVID-19,” says Jimmy Opelo, Permanent Secretary at Botswana’s agricultural ministry, who revealed how his country has had to change its tack on farm policymaking due to the pandemic.

Africa hits back against EU’s name and shame game

The question of tax avoidance and financial information exchange remains a sore point for EU-African relations, and the European Commission’s annual lists of ‘non co-operative’ countries on tax and money laundering laws have done little to improve the situation.

We need co-ordination to avoid a food security crisis, UN expert says

Preventing the coronavirus pandemic from morphing into a food security crisis is increasingly the focus of policy-makers. “Co-ordination of trade policy is the order of the day,” says Arif Husain, chief economist of the UN's World Food Programme. “This is a global crisis which requires a global solution.”

Towards a new Africa-Europe partnership after the Corona crisis

The EU must look beyond its borders and delivers the global leadership the coronavirus crisis demands, and shape a new partnership with its closest neighbour, Africa, in the process, argue the directors of the European Think Tanks Group.

EU to discuss Africa debt relief

EU countries will discuss a request for debt relief from five Sahel countries as part of efforts to help them cope with coronavirus, European Council chief Charles Michel said Tuesday (28 April).

Despite controversy, the Energy Charter Treaty is silently being pushed into Africa

Joining the Energy Charter Treaty could cost developing countries money that is urgently needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, argue Pia Eberhardt, Cecilia Olivet and Faith Lumonya.

G20 agree debt relief ahead of crucial IMF spring meetings

The G20 group of leading economies agreed on Wednesday (15 April) to suspend debt payments owed to them by some of the world's poorest countries in a bid to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

EU unveils €15bn COVID rescue plan, but includes no new money

The EU unveiled on Wednesday (8 April) a support package worth €15.6 billion for African and other partner countries hit by the coronavirus pandemic, but conceded that it includes no new money.

Europe must be the frontrunner to avoid Africa’s corona boomerang

It's in the EU's interest to step up humanitarian, social and economic aid and do whatever it takes to support African economies about to be hit by the coronavirus, writes Luca Jahier.

Pressure builds for EU to back new African debt relief programme

African finance ministers want the European Union, International Monetary Fund and World Bank to support a multi-billion debt relief programme for the continent amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The last continent to face up COVID-19, Africa ‘needs to wake up’

As Europe and North American countries go into self-imposed economic and social lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic, Africa remains the continent least affected by the virus. Still, a raft of African governments were quick to impose travel bans on airlines carrying passengers from Europe last week.

EU unveils ‘partnership plans’ for new Africa strategy

Partnerships on ten policy areas are at the heart of the EU’s plan “Towards a comprehensive strategy with Africa,” launched on Monday (9 March). The paper will start a seven-month negotiating process with EU and African leaders, with a view to agreeing a partnership agenda at an EU African Union summit in October.

Post-Cotonou delays complicate EU’s new African vision

The European Commission will next week publish its EU-Africa ‘strategy’, which the bloc hopes will form the basis of a new ‘partnership’ with the African continent. EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell will launch the blueprint on Monday (9 March), kick-starting seven months of negotiation between ministers and leaders from the two continents. 

EU-Africa: in search of a genuine partnership

The European Commission is pursuing a renewed and ambitious relationship with the African continent. The new relationship is intended to treat Africa as an equal partner to Europe, as opposed to policy priorities being dictated to African partners. However, there...