Albares presents the Spain-Africa Foundation, envisioned by the Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028

Eduardo González The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, presented the Spain-Africa Foundation this Monday, one of the projects of the Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028. The aim is to promote cooperation between Spain and the neighboring continent in the political, economic, social, scientific, and cultural spheres, as well as to foster greater mutual understanding between both shores. The 'Spain-Africa Strategy 2025-2028. "Working together through a strategic relationship," presented in December 2024 by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, proposes 100 lines of action to guide Spanish foreign policy toward Africa over the coming years, grouped into five strategic objectives: strengthening a relationship that facilitates joint action; growing toward sustainable and youth-focused African development; connecting societies and economies in Africa, Spain, and the world; protecting the security of populations; and living together in open societies with strong and inclusive institutions. Within this framework, the Strategy foresees, 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 creation of a Foundation to promote relations with Africa. According to Albares' statement this Monday at the Ministry's headquarters in Marqués de Salamanca (Madrid), the Foundation "was born from the conviction that Spain and Africa share a common destiny and a shared responsibility in building a more just, sustainable, and humane future." The future Spain-Africa Foundation, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be an instrument of public diplomacy and social partnership that will contribute to projecting Spain's voice and presence in Africa and strengthening human, institutional, and cultural ties between the societies of both countries through a work plan that will include exchange programs for experts in various sectors, scholarships, seminars, and dialogue forums. Among its lines of action, the Foundation will pay special attention to the Afro-diaspora and Afro-descendant communities, both in Spain and Latin America. This recognizes their role as a human and cultural bridge between continents and their importance as key players in the construction of the Euro-African space. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Spain-Africa Foundation will be established as a private foundation with public participation, conceived as a meeting place for institutions, businesses, universities, and civil society. Its Board of Trustees will be composed of GB Foods and AEE Power, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Casa África. Likewise, Maman Sidikou, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger, and Suzi Barbosa, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau, will join the Board of Trustees. Their participation reflects the African vocation and true partnership of the new institution. According to Albares, the Foundation "will be an open, plural, and inclusive institution, designed to welcome all companies, universities, and organizations that wish to participate in building a stronger and more lasting relationship between Spain and Africa."

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