Germany is the largest economy and the most populated country in Western Europe. Despite setbacks from two world wars, the country continues to be the industrial hub of Europe. It also serves as a bridge between Western and Eastern Europe. The country also hosts the European Central Bank and therefore the financial capital of the Union.

It is bordered to the west by Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg; south by Switzerland and Austria; east by Poland, Czech Republic and Austria; and to the north by the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea.

The geopolitical position of Germany made it relatively vulnerable in its modern history. Political entities that emerged from the space occupied by modern-day Germany could hardly avoid the frequent wars that bedevilled Europe.

Germany’s relationship with Africa had been determined by five main events that occurred in Europe and which affected Germany. These were: the unification of Germany; the First World War; the Second World War and Cold War, the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Formation of the European Union.

Before the mid-19th century, the term Germany was a mere geographical expression that represented a group of German-speaking states in western and central Europe. The largest and the most powerful, Prussia, led by Otto von Bismarck united these states and made it the most powerful in continental Europe by the last three decades of that century. Also known as the Iron Chancellor, Bismarck had dislodged the reigning powers of Europe. Austria and France had succumbed to the modernized military of a united Germany.

Before the unification German states had shown little or no interest in colonizing Africa. Otto von Bismarck had considered colonialism an expensive enterprise that was not worth investing in. However, this did not mean that German traders were absent in Africa. It was because of such trade interests that led to the development of Germany’s interest in colonialism. The first territory of interest had been South West Africa (Namibia).

Interestingly in 1884/5, Germany went on to host the Berlin Conference that formally divided Africa among European powers. It did not leave itself out. It took Togoland, Cameroon, Namibia and Tanganyika (now mainland Tanzania). The conference that involved almost all European powers including Russia was part of an arrangement for European stability. Africa and its resources had increasingly become consequential to the growing industrialization of Europe and a clear-cut demarcation had become necessary. Without this many at the time had thought (at the time) that Africa could become a major cause of a major European conflict. With a powerful economy and military combined with relatively less presence in Africa, Germany became the ideal host of the historical summit. It ran from late 1884 to early 1885.

German colonial policy as a latecomer in Africa about colonialism was brutal and inhumane. The massacre of the locals and removal of traditional authority was different from British colonial policy in some parts of Africa and India called indirect rule. To this day Germany is facing backlash for these brutalities.

Germany, however, lost these possessions during and after World War I. The territories were taken away from Germany by the Allied victors. France and Britain shared Togoland and Cameroun; Britain took Tanganyika and gave the Kingdoms of Burundi and Rwanda to Belgium; and South Africa took Namibia. Before the Second World War, Hitler set his eyes on Africa as he demanded a return of former German colonies. The European powers and the League of Nations refused to grant his request.

During the war, Germany had opened fronts in North Africa.

After WW II the European country was divided into four parts among the Allied forces. The Western countries had joined their sections to what became West Germany. The Soviets took the eastern section.

This division had become a major feature of the Cold War. The Soviet-occupied section had become East Germany—a sovereign state of its own. More intriguing the city of Berlin, located within East Germany was also divided between the West and East. West and East Germany supported US and Soviet policies respectively in Africa. West Germany supported African states pursuing Western values. East Germany had heavily supported left-wing values in Africa. Both entities sponsored many projects and granted technical support to many economies in Africa.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1990, literally reunited Germany.

With unification, Germany has projected a more pronounced soft power in Africa. Development, donor support, technical assistance, investment and peacebuilding became important interests of the country. Home to Europe’s largest economy and a leading manufacturing country, Germany has invested immensely in Africa. Between 2016 and 2020 Germany invested almost $10 billion in Africa in foreign direct investment (FDI). In 2022, Germany invested $1.6 billion with $1.1 billion of that going to Sub-Sahara Africa. Investment areas include mining, energy and technology.

Currently, apart from the continuation of Germany's partnership with African states through bilateral projects and agencies, the country generally acts in line with EU policies towards the continent.

Security issues:
Currently, Germany has multiple security issues to deal with in Europe. These include the Ukraine war, migration, extremism (with jihadism and the far right) and the recent economic slowdown. As an economy that depends hugely on manufacturing the last presents a significant challenge. However, the country has prioritized the security of Ukraine in recent months. It has consequently donated billions of dollars in diverse support to Kyiv. Berlin considers Russian domination of Ukraine as potentially dangerous to its national security.

With West Africa, Germany has shown particular interest in the fight against violent extremism in the Sahel. It has supported regional coalition forces through the European Union. Berlin has also given direct aid and security support to regional forces. Despite these efforts, it has refused to supply weapons to these forces. Berlin has fears that weapons and equipment may fall into the hands of extremists. With political instability becoming pervasive in the region, Germany’s security priorities in Africa get more complicated.

The country is also adopting more dynamic means of addressing migration at source.

Verdict:
Despite Germany’s inimical colonial past in Africa, its pacifist and development-oriented approach to development, especially after the Cold War have made it a comfortable partner to many African countries. With African economies determined to build and expand their domestic industrial base, the European country provides vital know-how required to achieve these goals. Also, Germany’s professional and less controversial military could help train security forces battling violent extremism in Africa. It could also partner economies in finding more workable solutions to the migration crisis that puts many African youth in danger. Germany’s investment in Africa is likely to increase in the coming decades.