Africa and Europe stand at a crossroads. With several key frameworks governing their partnership being changed at fast pace, the stage is set for them to identify, understand, and overcome the self-deceit that has shaped their relations. The two continent’s key actors have an opportunity to reaffirm what was said by the region’s respective leaders in 2017: that their partnership ought to be built on a “spirit of shared ownership, responsibility, reciprocity, respect and mutual accountability and transparency.” A lot of what has happened recently – from aggravating impacts of climate change, the 2008-2009 financial crisis, to the macroeconomic challenges resulting from a pandemic and the consequences of the War in Ukraine – aggravates the marginalisation of Africa, confirming the need for a change of approach. The colonial shadow, still marking negotiators mind sets in both sides, is trapping them into the past while overlooking the many opportunities of the future.
Source:Oxford Martin School
