During his visit to Berlin, CDU politician Friedrich Merz advocated for establishing a free trade agreement with the African Union. He stated that the European Union is already Africa’s most significant trade partner and investor, boasting a trade volume of 350 billion euros, but that securing an independent economic zone in Africa would be even more valuable. Furthermore, he expressed a desire to work toward a comprehensive free trade agreement between the African Union and the European Union. According to Merz, the major geopolitical crises currently unfolding highlight that diversification is key to reducing dependencies on both shores of the Mediterranean.
Merz also spoke out in favor of reforming the international order, asserting that Africa’s voice within the United Nations needs to be more prominent. He confirmed that Germany supports the goal of adding two permanent African seats to the UN Security Council.
Addressing Merz’s remarks, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamud Ali Jussuf, thanked Germany for its support regarding peace and development efforts among the member states of the African Union. Jussuf acknowledged the reliance of the African Union on Germany during the current challenging times and the resulting economic crisis. He also pledged that the African Union will remain at the center of mediation efforts concerning ongoing conflicts and will actively contribute to peace initiatives.