Africa is a continent which has a huge role to play in the energy transition. The massive potential of renewables opens up opportunities for the people there and for cooperation with us in Europe. At COP28 in Dubai we heralded the end of the fossil fuel era and agreed on a renewable future. We want to work with our African partners to usher in this future.

At the same time, many countries in Africa are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, as can currently be seen once again in the flooding in Kenya in the wake of extreme drought. The impact on people’s livelihoods and homes is dramatic, and the potential for conflict within communities, countries and regions has increased considerably.

One central topic of my trip is the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) supported by Germany. APRA was launched by Kenyan President William Ruto, and a large number of African states are already members. With APRA we are shifting the energy transition into a higher gear. Kenya, with its ambitious goals, is an important partner in accelerating the energy transition in Africa. In order to intensify cooperation with Kenya, we are now establishing a hydrogen diplomacy office there, designed to bring together key players for hydrogen production in the country, for Kenya has ideal conditions for the fuel of the future.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa – a regional heavyweight – and at the same time is extremely susceptible to the effects of the climate crisis, also in terms of security. For climate change is a security risk, exacerbating conflicts over resources, for example. That is another reason why I intend to intensify our cooperation with Nigeria in the area of energy and climate within the context of the existing bilateral energy partnership.

In the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, my bilateral talks will focus on the energy transition and climate policy. Another priority will be the exchange with the African Union, particularly on climate and security.

At every stage of my trip I will engage in discussion with national and international partners and representatives of civil society and business on the local situation, the extent of climate damage and above all on sustainable and at the same time economically attractive solutions. After all, these countries are important partners for Germany and the EU in the green transition and have considerable scope to benefit from the global energy transition.