Statement by Foreign Minister Wadephul prior to his departure for Kenya and Ethiopia

In a rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever that Germany expands its relations with key global partners. Germany has an excellent offer to make to the nations of our neighbouring continent, Africa. Our country stands for international cooperation, economic openness and political reliability.

The sea routes off the coasts of East Africa are one of the major arteries of world trade. The region around the Horn of Africa is of particular strategic importance. My first trip to the African continent as Foreign Minister will therefore take me to Kenya and Ethiopia - two central players with aspirations to shape events far beyond the region.

Kenya is our closest partner in the region and a true pillar of stability. In a region plagued by crises, Kenya plays a crucial mediating role - as it has in the past, for example, in eastern Congo and South Sudan. Kenya is also a major troop contributor to the African Union mission in Somalia. What is more, Kenya shoulders responsibility for peace and security far beyond the region, for instance as the largest troop contributor to the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti. Kenya is already our most important trading partner in East Africa. We want to build on this and encourage even more German companies to go to Kenya. I will also discuss with my counterpart Musalia Mudavadi how we can further improve the implementation of the mobility and migration partnership.

Ethiopia bears crucial responsibility for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. The situation in Tigray and relations with Eritrea remain tense. With my visit, I want to encourage efforts to find solutions for a peaceful balance of interests. As the second most populous country in Africa, Ethiopia offers enormous potential for German business. It is clear that stability and the rule of law are the most important prerequisites for a good investment climate. I will discuss the conditions for this in Addis Ababa.

In a multipolar world, Africa is increasingly emerging as a centre of gravity. We therefore also want to further expand our cooperation with the African Union. We are united in our commitment to a rules-based international order and cooperation in which multilateral solutions are considered preferable to nations going it alone. With the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, I will have discussions in Addis Ababa about how conflict management in Africa can be further strengthened. At the same time, Germany is committed to ensuring that Africa's voice is adequately represented on the UN Security Council.

In times of trade restrictions and isolationist tendencies, we as an exporting nation need to broaden our base and further strengthen our global networks. No other continent has such a high proportion of young people in its population as Africa, and no other continent offers similar opportunities for growth. German business has much to offer and much to gain on the road to Africa's future - that is why I am accompanied by a business delegation from a wide range of sectors.