Kick-off: Danish Government aims to rethink and bolster engagement in Africa

Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen will host a kick-off event to mark the launch of work on the strategy tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. at the Royal Danish Library’s Black Diamond building in Copenhagen. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will also participate, along with African partners who are in Denmark for the event, including Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Minister of Kenya Dr. Musalia Mudavadi and Chief Minister of Sierra Leone David Sengeh.

“Africa plays a central role in the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. We in the EU have every possible interest in creating even stronger alliances with the African countries – especially in a time when countries such as Russia and China are intensifying their engagement. We must talk about opportunities and challenges for strengthened Danish and European cooperation with African countries. This requires a new approach, where we not only think in terms of emergency aid, but much more about cooperation on equal terms in areas such as business, security, education and research,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

“The African continent faces many great challenges that are growing in magnitude as a result of climate change and other factors. At the same time, there is growth and hope in many places. Denmark must be a trustworthy and equal partner for the African countries we collaborate with. We must help to address challenges and seize opportunities. This applies in a wide range of areas, the most urgent of which relate to climate and the green transition,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen.

As part of the strategy development efforts, the Danish Government will engage in close dialogue with African and European partners. Work on the strategy for strengthened Danish engagement in Africa is expected to be completed later this year.