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Africa’s Strategic Partnerships

Introduction

In the period between 2004 and 2008, Africa developed a number of ground

breaking partnerships with the rest of the world aimed at enhancing cooperation and

consolidating growth of the continent. These include the Africa-South America, Africa-

India, and Africa-Turkey partnerships. During the same period, existing cooperation

between Africa and its traditional partners were re-defined, invigorated and

strengthened. These include Africa-Europe Partnership, the China-Africa Forum and the

TICAD process led by Japan.

The philosophy underpinning Africa’s new partnerships is predicated on specific

objectives with pre-determined “Win-Win” outcomes for the mutual benefits of the

parties involved. It is based on the principle of trust, equality and mutual respect. It aims

at obliterating the age-long pattern of donor-recipient relationship, to one founded on

reciprocal obligations and responsibilities.

These partnerships are consistent with the clearly defined vision and

development strategy of the African Union (AU), with particular emphasis on speeding

up industrialization, development of infrastructure, development and acquisition of

technology and know-how and development of human capital, all of which are outlined

in the Commission’s Strategic Plan and the AU’s NEPAD programme.

(i) Africa-European Union (EU) Partnership

The Africa-EU partnership is a traditional form of partnership, which has gestated

over a long period of time. Institutionally, it began with the first Africa-EU Summit in

Cairo, Egypt, in 2000, followed by the 2nd Summit that took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in

December 2007, which adopted an Africa-EU Joint Strategy (JAES) and its Action Plan.

The third AU-EU Summit was held in Tripoli, Libya, in November 2010.

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The JAES reflected the wider processes of integration in both continents as well

as geopolitical changes occurring in the wider international landscape, particularly, the

challenges of globalization. Significantly, this partnership is one of the most productive

and has produced concrete outcomes in the areas of peace and security; democratic

governance and human rights; trade; migration, mobility and employment; climate

change, as well as regional integration and infrastructure.

(ii) The Africa-South America Summit (ASA)

The Africa-South America Summit (ASA) is relatively new and gradually gaining

momentum. The first ASA Summit was held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 30 November 2006

while the second one took place in Isla de Margarita, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,

on 27 September 2009. The third summit was to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea,

from 15-16 May, 2012.

Not much has been achieved so far in this partnership as attempts are currently

being made to put in place the necessary mechanisms that would ensure the effective

implementation of the process. The partnership is inclined towards political solidarity,

perhaps because of the shared historical background of the two sides. However,

concrete projects could be realized and Africa needs to define its core interests and

propel the partnership towards economic sustainability.

The ASA partnership faces some challenges. These include the need to clarify

outstanding issues such as the role and functions of the Strategic Presidential

Committee, the Permanent Secretariat and its Executive Secretary as set up in Isla de

Margarita, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and their working relationships with

existing ASA structures. There is also need to identify the financing mechanism of the

projects/programmes of the partnership in order to achieve concrete deliverables. In this

respect, a financing mechanism has been proposed by the African side and a Working

Group of both sides has been mandated to study it and submit a Report to the third ASA

Summit. Some progress has been made in tackling some of these problems with the

ASA Ministerial meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in November 2011 having

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adopted the Regulations which will guide the operations of both the Strategic

Presidential Committee and the Executive Secretariat. The Regulations will come into

force once adopted by the Summit.

(iii) China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC)

The China-Africa Cooperation Forum is a platform established by China and

friendly African countries for collective consultation and dialogue and as a cooperation

mechanism among developing countries. The characteristics of the Forum are twofold.

First, it is to strengthen consultation and expand cooperation within a pragmatic

framework and second, to promote political dialogue and economic cooperation with a

view to seeking mutual reinforcement and cooperation. The Forum, which was

established at Ministerial level, has held four sessions in Beijing, China, from 10-12

October 2000; in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 15-16 December 2003; again in Beijing,

from 4-5 November 2006; and in Sharm El Sheikh, Arab Republic of Egypt, on 8

November 2009. The 2006 session was at the level of Heads of State and Government

to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Africa and China.

The FOCAC is a strong partnership, which has gestated over a long period of

time. It is doing very well and has the potential of bringing various advantages to the two

sides. In many areas, the partnership has delivered some concrete outcomes that are

beneficial to Africa although Africa needs to utilize the partnership to the fullest in terms

of the potential of the available market and the business opportunities. There is also

need to align the partnership to the strategic objectives of the African Union. The

magnificent new AU Conference and Office Complex built by the Chinese government

free of charge to the AU and commissioned in January 2012, is testimony to the real

value this partnership brings to Africa.

Of significance is the fact that the African Union Commission was admitted into

FOCAC on 26 October 2011 as a full member and no more as an Observer, during the

Senior Officials meeting held in Hahgzhou, China. It will therefore attend the 5th

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Ministerial FOCAC meeting taking place in Beijing, China, mid-July 2012 in that

capacity.

(iv) Africa-Japan (TICAD) Process

The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) began as

a Japanese initiative. The initial design was to create a consultative forum to provide

development assistance to Africa. It was launched in 1993. Since then three TICAD

Conferences have been held, TICAD II in 1998, TICAD III in 2003 and TICAD IV in

2008, according to a five yearly schedule.

TICAD was not a classic partnership endeavor. It was initially designed to

provide assistance to Africa, rather with Africa, with a focus on assumed development

needs and priorities. There was need to promote high level dialogue between African

leaders and Japan and mobilize support for African “owned” development initiatives.

TICAD IV held in Yokohama, Japan, from 28-30 May 2008, was a critical point in

the development of the process because it promoted the full involvement of the African

Union and its Commission in the process that could pave the way for its evolution into a

broad based partnership. The Yokohama Declaration and Action Plan produced with

specific actions to be undertaken within a five year period. Also for the first time, a

TICAD Follow-up Mechanism was adopted upon the request of African Head of States

who wanted the process to be institutionalized. The Follow-up Mechanism comprises a

three-tier structure comprising a Secretariat, a Joint Monitoring Committee and a follow-

up meeting.

The AU Commission has now also been admitted by Japan and other co-

organizers, as a co-organizer, with effect from 2012. It is expected therefore that the AU

Commission will play a more active role in the organization of TICAD V coming up in

2013.

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(v) Africa-US (AGOA)

The African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) was signed into law in May 2000 by

the President of the USA. The Act offers tangible incentives for African countries to

continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets. It is the most

bilateral access to the U.S. market available to any country or region with which the

United States does not have a free Trade Agreement. It supports U.S. business by

encouraging reform of Africa’s economic and commercial regimes, which will build

stronger markets and more effective partners with U.S. firms.

Since its establishment, AGOA has gone through three amendments; AGOA II in

2002, which substantially expanded preferential access for imports from beneficiary

African countries; AGOA III, which provides for an Acceleration Act, extends preferential

access for imports from beneficiary countries until September 2015 and the African

Investment Incentive Act (AGOA), referred to as “AGOA IV”. The legislation extends the

third country fabric provision for an additional five years, from September 2007 until

September 2012; adds an abundant supply provision, designates certain denim articles

as being in abundant supply; and allows lesser developed beneficiary African countries

export certain textile articles under AGOA.

An AGOA Implementation Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee

(TPSC) was established to implement AGOA. Among the most important

implementation issues are the following:

Determination of country eligibility;

Determination of the products eligible for zero tariff under expansion of the

Generalized System of preferences (GSP);

Determination of compliance with the conditions for apparel benefits;

Establishment of the U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic

Forum; and

Provisions for technical assistance to held countries qualify for benefits.

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Taking into account that this cooperation is governed by an Act of the United

States Congress and it is bilateral in nature, AGOA is not considered within the context

of the African Union’s Strategic Partnerships. The African Union aims to develop proper

partnership with the U.S. to reflect the on-going Strategic Engagement between the two

sides, including AGOA.

(vi) Partnership between Africa and the Arab World

Formal relations between Africa and the Arab world were launched in March

1977 with the Cairo Summit in Egypt. The solidarity between the two sides is necessary,

especially as Africa is home to about two-thirds of the world’s Arabs. An attempt was

made at revamping the partnership with a second Summit that was held in Sirte, Libya,

on 10 October 2010.

The Summit adopted four Resolutions as follows:

I) Resolution on Africa-Arab Partnership Strategy and the Joint Africa-Arab

Action Plan 2011-2016;

II) Resolution on the Establishment of the Joint Africa-Arab Fund for Disaster

Response;

III) Resolution on the Support for the Peace Efforts in The Sudan;

IV) Resolution on the Date and Venue of the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit.

The Summit also issued a Sirte Declaration summarizing the common positions

on major regional and international issues.

The Second Africa-Arab Summit, though convened after a long break of more

than three decades, clearly manifested the renewed commitment and readiness of the

contemporary African and Arab leaders to follow the footsteps of the leaders of the

1970’s by confirming the need to revitalize and further consolidate the long standing

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solidarity between the brotherly peoples of the two regions. The convening of the

Summit was indeed a continuation of the high level political dialogue between the two

regions, which had been missing for the past thirty three years, and provided a new

vision and direction to the Africa-Arab Partnership.

(vii) Africa-India Partnership Forum

The Africa-India Cooperation was launched in New Delhi, India, from 8-9 April

2008 by a Summit of African and Indian leaders. The Summit was held at three levels –

Senior Officials, Ministers and Heads of State and Government. The Summit produced

two major outcome documents, namely the Delhi Declaration and an Africa-India

Framework for Cooperation. The 2nd Summit was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 25

May 2011 and followed similar format.

The first Africa-India Plan of Action (2010-2013) was launched in New Delhi, on 10

March 2010. Under this Plan, India offered concessional Lines of Credit to African

LDCs, provided scholarships to African post-graduate students in the field of Agriculture

to study in Indian Universities and institutions, offered to establish various Institutions,

vocational training centers and prototype housing schemes in the various regions of the

continent as well as the establishment of the Pan-African E-Network project for tele-

medicine and tele-education.

This Plan has been revised and many more proposals have been made by India,

within the framework of the revised Plan, aimed at building Africa’s capacities, human

resource development and productive capacities to increase its own ability to achieve

the Millennium Development Goals and higher levels of growth.

The Africa-India partnership has potentials for expansion and for evolving into an

effective partnership. Commitments made under it are capable of delivering substantial

benefits to the peoples of the two sides, as they have been backed with concrete

projects and earmarked funding.

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(viii) Africa-Turkey Partnership

The Summit establishing the Africa-Turkey Partnership was held in Istanbul,

Turkey, from 18-20 April 2008. The Summit was the outcome of preparatory meetings

held successfully in Ankara and Addis Ababa. The objectives of the Summit were to

consolidate and develop areas of cooperation at all levels and in all areas; establish

between Africa and Turkey a stable, long-term partnership based on mutual interests

and equality and to enhance promotion of Africa-Turkey cooperation in specific areas of

interests.

The first Summit adopted two outcome documents, namely the Istanbul

Declaration and the Framework for Cooperation, which spelt out the areas of

cooperation between the two parties. An Implementation Plan 2010-2014 has been

jointly developed that took into account the strong bilateral relations between many

African countries and Turkey.

The Africa-Turkey Partnership has enormous potentials, but its rate and scope of

implementation will need to take off because, as of now, not much progress has been

made in terms of the implementation of the Istanbul agreement.

(ix) Africa-Korea Partnership

It is recalled that the Republic of Korea decided to organize the first Korea-Africa

Partnership Forum immediately after the China-Africa Summit in November 2006. This

took place in Seoul on 8 November 2006 and was attended by five African Presidents

and Ministers from 25 African countries. The Forum was crowned with a Declaration,

which, among other things, decided that it would hold every three years, at Ministerial

level.

Three years after that Seoul meeting, Korea hosted in Seoul, on 24 and 25

November 2009, the 2nd Korea-Africa Forum. The 2nd Forum was held under the

auspices of the African Union as subsequent fora will be. The AU and Korea are in the

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process of preparing an Action Plan based on the Declaration of the 2nd meeting to

facilitate implementation of commitments. A senior officials meeting will examine this

Plan in the near future, but certainly before the 3rd Forum takes place in October 2012.

(x) Institution to Institution Partnership/Relationship

The African Union, through its Commission, also has partnerships or

relationships with institutions and bodies similar to the African Union. These include:

(i) The League of Arab States (LAS);

(ii) The Organization of American States (OAS);

(iii) The Organization of Islamic Cooperation;

(iv) The Commonwealth;

(v) La Francophonie.

The African Union Commission collaborates with these organizations in a

number of areas which are considered extremely helpful. With the exception of the

Organization of American States (OAS), many Member States of the African Union also

belong to the other four, especially the League of Arab States with which the AU has a

special relationship and a vibrant one at that. Good partnerships with these

organizations can only but enhance the relationship with the AU and benefit its Member

States.