Albares presents to African ambassadors the first steps of the new Strategy for the continent

Eduardo González The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, presented this Friday to the African ambassadors accredited in Spain the first measures taken within the framework of the new Spain-Africa Strategy 2024-2028, the document that will guide Spanish foreign policy towards the continent for the next four years and is in the implementation phase. The 'Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028. Working together through a strategic relationship', was presented at the beginning of December by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, at the La Moncloa Complex, in the presence of José Manuel Albares, the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Cheik El Ghazouani; the President of the Commission of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat; the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Omar Alieu Touray; and the Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation of the Government of Senegal, Abdourrahmane Sarr, representing the Prime Minister, as well as members of the African and European diplomatic corps accredited in Spain, among others. The main novelty of the Strategy is that, unlike previous Africa Plans, it has “a continental dimension”, without categories of countries or priority partners, although with special attention to the immediate neighbourhood. During the meeting on Friday, held at the ministerial headquarters of the Viana Palace in Madrid, Albares thanked the ambassadors for their participation during the process of developing this strategy and invited them to continue collaborating in the new phase of implementation that is already underway, according to Foreign Ministry in a press release. He also explained that, since the presentation of the Strategy, some of the objectives set have already been met, such as the launching of several initiatives to promote the Spanish-African relationship that consolidates dialogue and deepens mutual knowledge between both regions. Another concrete example, he continued, is the recent launch of a new Spain-NEPAD Cooperation Programme, with a budget of 20 million euros and focused on creating opportunities for women and young people, with which Spain wants to further strengthen its cooperation with the African Union and other regional organisations. The Strategy is structured into five objectives and actions: strengthening, connecting, protecting and living together, which are broken down into a hundred lines of action. It will be carried out through different monitoring instruments, such as the annual Action Plan to be drawn up by the embassies or the regular meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Commission (CIMA) which will be launched in February. “This meeting with the African ambassadors and the measures that are already being implemented are proof that the Spain-Africa Strategy is not a mere declaration of intentions, but a tangible commitment to a shared future,” declared the Ministry. “Through the five objectives, Spain positions itself as a strategic partner for Africa, working hand in hand to address the challenges of the present and build opportunities for future generations,” he continued. “It is also a strategy that benefits both regions and contributes to a fairer, more sustainable and connected world.” The Strategy provides, among other measures, an increase in diplomatic deployment in the region and the reinforcement of working mechanisms on Africa within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the launch of a Sub-Directorate General for Western Africa and the Sahel within the Directorate General for Africa (created on 28 November by the Council of Ministers), an Advisory Council on Africa and an Inter-Ministerial Commission for Africa. With regard to the European Union, the Strategy provides for Spain to take on a greater role in the orientation and execution of EU policy towards Africa and in favour of greater use of European policy instruments in support of development and strategic objectives on the continent, agreed with African partners.

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