Africa Strategy: Cabinet Presents Integrated Approach for Cooperation with Africa

The Africa Strategy outlines the Dutch commitment to the African continent for the next ten years. The Netherlands has good relations with many of the 54 African countries and works closely in politics, trade, and development cooperation.

At the same time, the Netherlands and the EU face geopolitical challenges and competition on the African continent from other countries expanding their influence. This includes large-scale investments by China in infrastructure and critical raw materials, disruptive actions by Russia, and the growing role of other players such as the Gulf States. These developments require strengthened Dutch involvement, together with the EU and other European countries.

The interests of African countries and Europe are closely linked: politically, economically, and in security. Like the Netherlands and the EU, African countries have an interest in combating and controlling conflict, violent extremism, and terrorism. The EU is the main trading partner and investor in Africa and a major donor of development and humanitarian aid. The African continent has large reserves of critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals important for the energy transition. Many of these raw materials currently go from Africa to other countries for processing before reaching the EU. African countries also benefit from processing the raw materials themselves.

Instability and lack of prosperity directly affect the daily lives and future prospects of Africans and lead some Africans to seek safety or build a life outside the continent. Attention to preventing irregular migration remains an important part of Dutch and European efforts in African countries.

The Africa Strategy is the first Dutch integrated strategy for the entire African continent. It includes an action-oriented agenda that translates vision and commitment into actions in the short, medium, and long term. A central principle is understanding each others positions and willingness to support each other on issues important to the other.

The Africa Strategy was developed based on broad consultations and in-depth discussions with societal partners, knowledge institutions, businesses, diaspora, international organizations, and governments in the Netherlands, Europe, and especially Africa itself.