The surprise in Berlin was considerable: Germany failed to secure a Non-Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council, losing out to Austria and Portugal. Possible reasons were quickly discussed. Germany’s clear support for Ukraine or Israel, it was argued, may have deterred some states.
by Prof. Dr Stefan Liebing
However, this analysis falls short. Austria holds very similar fundamental positions in many international issues and still managed to secure sufficient support. It may therefore be worthwhile to look at another aspect of the vote – and at a continent whose political weight in Europe is still widely underestimated: Africa.
With 54 member states, Africa is the largest regional group within the United Nations. Anyone seeking to build international majorities cannot ignore African votes. At the same time, dissatisfaction is growing across the continent with a Europe that promises partnership but often acts slowly, operates in a cumbersome manner, and is frequently perceived as patronizing.
This was expressed with striking clarity by former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. In an interview on the UN vote, he said: “Maybe Ms Baerbock should have focused on doing her job in German diplomacy instead of trying to tell Nigerians where to build their toilets and telling Africans how to deal with elephants. Maybe then Germany would have received more votes from Africa for the UN seat.”
Regardless of how one assesses this statement, it points to a deeper issue. Many African states are losing patience. They no longer want to wait for European strategies, policy papers, and political debates. They are increasingly pursuing their own interests with confidence – and they now have the means to do so.
Botswana provides a telling example. President Duma Boko recently made it clear that his country will adopt a different stance going forward. Investors and buyers are welcome to come to Botswana. However, Botswana will no longer travel the world to negotiate over its own resources. Behind this statement lies a new self-image: those who want to do business with Africa are welcome, but Africa no longer sees itself as a supplicant.
This development is particularly evident in investment and financing. For decades, Europe was regarded as the preferred partner for development and infrastructure projects. Yet companies and governments are increasingly experiencing European financing instruments as too slow, too bureaucratic, and too expensive.
A German project developer recently reported on a large solar project in Côte d’Ivoire. Financing through European development banks would have involved a lengthy and costly process. Instead, financing was arranged in cooperation with the Africa Finance Corporation from Nigeria via green bonds. The necessary capital was raised more quickly, more cheaply, and directly from African investors.
Other countries are also taking this path. Recently, an African state decided to issue bonds through its own investment company on a European stock exchange in order to finance investments worth billions. The aim is to create new jobs and accelerate economic development.
In Europe, this development is often underestimated. Perhaps this is precisely the most important lesson from the vote in New York. Africa carries more international weight than many European capitals are willing to acknowledge. The era in which European governments could largely define the terms of cooperation is coming to an end. African states are articulating their interests independently and expect partners who treat them as equals.
For Austria, this presents an opportunity. The federal government’s new Africa strategy comes at a time when many countries on the continent are actively seeking economic and political partners. However, its success will not be measured by well-crafted declarations, but by concrete results: investment, economic cooperation, and the ability to implement decisions quickly and pragmatically. The vote at the UN headquarters was therefore more than a diplomatic footnote. Africa is not waiting for Europe. The key question is whether Europe is ready to accept Africa as a self-confident partner.