Foreign Minister Stubb: Africa should be seen more holistically than before

Africa’s strategic importance is constantly increasing. The continent should not be considered merely from the perspective of development policy but also from wider viewpoints of security and trade, Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb emphasised on 8 February at the launch of the policy paper “Africa in Finland’s Foreign Policy”. In addition to Minister Stubb, Member of Parliament Pekka Haavisto, the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative to African crisis areas, also commented on the policy.

In presenting the policy, Foreign Minister Stubb stated that Africa’s strategic importance has increased in recent years. Issues pertaining to Africa are continually on the agenda of the UN Security Council, the EU and the G8. There are certainly challenges to multilateral cooperation. Despite the positive development that has occurred, Africa is still the world’s poorest continent. The number of crises and conflicts there is greater than anywhere else. Africa is Europe’s neighbouring continent. Its problems reflect directly on the security and well-being of Europeans as well, for instance through illegal migration, terrorism and fragile states.

On the other hand, Africa has much potential to offer. Emerging economic powers, such as China and India, have noticed this and are increasing their aid and investments in Africa. Moreover, Africa itself is taking part in solving global problems more so than before.

Finland strives to consider Africa more holistically than in the past. The policy paper now published deals with Finland’s objectives and operational approaches vis-à-vis Africa, paying attention to all aspects of foreign policy. Security and development are closely intertwined. Finland’s Africa policy has traditionally focused on development cooperation. Development policy and development cooperation will continue to have a central role. However, it is time for Finland, too, to pay increased attention to issues of peace and security in Africa. The policy paper now published takes account of this aspect in particular.

The Foreign Minister concluded his presentation by summarising the conclusions of the policy in six points. Active promotion of peace must be continued. Crisis management must be seen more holistically, as a multifaceted challenge. Peace mediation efforts must also be intensified. The flexibility of financing must be increased in all operations. The EU’s Africa agenda must be considered from a holistic perspective that takes account not only of development policy issues but also of issues linked with peace and security. Moreover, the goal must, in the end, be to extend democracy, good governance and human rights as far as possible in African societies.

According to Stubb, Finland and the Nordic countries have good departure points for this work, thanks to our reputation as a reliable expert in peacekeeping and peace mediation missions, nor is our history burdened by a past involving colonialism.

MP Pekka Haavisto started his own presentation by outlining the three waves of Africa’s economic history. The first wave was the colonial period, the second was the redistribution into the camps of the West the East during the Cold War period and the third involves the increased influence of Asia. According to Haavisto, the economy of many African countries is already more dependent on economic trends in China than in Europe, for example.

As to peacekeeping, many African countries themselves are experts. The African Union has succeeded not only in conducting negotiation processes among its 54 member states but also in raising the peacekeeping operations of certain states, such as Ghana, to international standards. Haavisto pointed out that Africa is a global actor at other levels and fora as well. The African countries have great weight and influence within the G77, as was evident at the Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December. The EU should therefore see Africa as an increasingly important negotiation partner.