24
Nov
2023
Debates Conférences
Ifri Paris
from 09:00 to 16:30
This event is restricted
Olaf Scholz with several African heads of state during the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, Paris, June 23, 2023
Olaf Scholz with several African heads of state during the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, Paris, June 23, 2023

German and French Africa Policies in a Multipolar World Conférence

As Africa experiences a paradigm shift in its global positioning, characterized by the rise of multiple regional and international actors, it becomes imperative to examine how traditional European powers, such as France and Germany, navigate this transformed landscape.

Co-hosted for the sixth time by the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), this event brings together specialists from the worlds of research, diplomacy and politics to discuss the contributions of Germany and France to a European strategy for Africa. 
 
Panellists will address the security situation in the Sahel, the partnership between Africa and Europe on energy and climate issues, and German and French approaches to address colonial memory.

 

The conference will take place in French and German, with simultaneous interpretation.

All times are listed in Paris time (CEST).

 

Opening Words

9:00-9:15 CEST

Alain Antil, Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Center, French Institute of International Relations 

Henrik Maihack, Head of the Africa division, Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (FES) 

Stephan Klingebiel, Head of Programme Inter- and Transnational Cooperation, German Institue of Sustainability and Development (IDOS)   

 

Panel 1 : French and German climate policies and approaches to energy security in dialogue with African partners

9:15-10:45 CEST

  • Claire Hellich-Praquin, Director for European & International Affairs and cooperation - French Energy Regulator (tbc)
  • Pauline Larat, Vice-Director of the Energy division, French Development Agency
  • Annabelle Livet, Researcher, Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique  
  • Christoph Retzlaff, Director for Sub-Saharan Africa & the Sahel at the Federal Foreign Office  

Chair: Jeanette Süß, Researcher, Ifri

 

Panel 2 : Engagement, Disengagement or Reorientation? The Future of French and German Policies in the Sahel Region

11:00-12:45 CEST

  • Alain Antil, Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Center, Ifri 
  • Niagalé Bagayoko, Chair of the African Security Sector Network 
  • Emmanuel Besnier, Vice-director of Directorate for Africa and the Indian Ocean, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
  • Birgit Pickel, Director-General for Africa in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development 
  • Nils Schmid, Member of the German Bundestag, Social Democratic Party

Chair: Henrik Maihack, Head of the Africa division, Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (FES) 

 

Panel 3 : Dealing with the past: German and French approaches to address colonial memory and calls for restitution

14:30-16:00 CEST

  • Ibou Coulibaly Diop, Researcher, Humboldt University / Senate of Berlin
  • Richard Legay, Senior researcher, Arnold-Bergestraesser Institute
  • Elise Pape, Researcher, EHESS

Chair: Benedikt Erforth, Senior Reseacher, IDOS  

 

Closing session

16:00-16:30 CEST



Address: 
27 rue de la Procession, 75015 PARIS
Contact the organizers: 

For more information, please contact afrique@ifri.org

Related publications
04/07/2023

North-South tensions are exacerbated at a time of unprecedented turmoil for both Europeans and Africans. European polycrises (geopolitical, energy-related and economic) echo the systematic vulnerability of Africans, which is reinforced by external shocks.

23/06/2022

Germany, despite the reluctance of its public opinion, is committed to supporting security in the Sahel, notably through its participation in the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM) and recently in Niger, and in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in...

Keywords
energy security restitution of colonial objects Africa Europe France Germany Sahel