Africa: Germany's Growing Interest in Africa - A Win for Both Sides?

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Deutsche Welle report, said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is making his third Africa trip of 2026 as Berlin seeks broader engagement with the continent. The current tour includes Nigeria, followed by South Africa, after an earlier stop in Mauritania. DW reported that the talks are centered on security, vocational skills, investment and economic cooperation, and follow Wadephul’s previous visits this year to Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco.

In Mauritania, the agenda focused on migration, counterterrorism and regional stability. The report noted concern over the Atlantic migration route to Europe, citing a recent UN refugee agency report of at least 144 deaths near the Mauritanian coast. Wadephul’s delegation also met the Mourchidates, a state-supported group of female Islamic spiritual guides involved in preventing extremism, reflecting Germany’s interest in community-level approaches to security.

In Nigeria, DW said Wadephul met entrepreneurs, creatives, filmmakers, influencers and students, while describing the country as a major African economic and cultural force. Areas raised for cooperation included vocational education, science, technology, innovation and German investment. Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it expected the visit to deepen existing ties and open further collaboration on growth, stability and shared prosperity.

The trip is due to end in South Africa, described in the report as Germany’s most important economic partner in Africa, with more than 600 German companies operating there. DW cited German Foreign Office figures showing German direct investment in South Africa at €7.99 billion in 2023, while South African investment in Germany totaled €2.6 billion. The wider push follows a Germany-African Union strategic dialogue launched last year on foreign and security policy, backed by German pledges of more than €100 million.