Fostering Africa–Germany Collaboration: Strategic Dialogue in Berlin Ahead of the 2025 G20 Summit in South Africa

During their visit, the delegation engaged with key German ministries and agencies, including the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF), Members of the German Parliament, the Foreign Ministry’s African Department, and the Chancellery Office. These high-level discussions focused on strengthening the evolving Africa-Germany partnership, aligning shared priorities within the G20 framework, and exploring opportunities to advance a joint agenda on critical issues of mutual interest.

Central to the delegation’s message were pressing challenges facing the continent — notably Africa’s escalating debt crisis, setbacks in peace and democratic governance, and the urgent climate agenda. At the heart of the dialogue was Africa’s Common Position on Debt (ACPD), which calls for meaningful reforms to the International Financial Architecture (IFA). The delegation also addressed specific expectations related to the G20‘s Compact with Africa and Germany’s Africa Policy Guideline.

The Compact with Africa (CwA), a G20 initiative designed to stimulate private investment and promote economic development across the continent, featured prominently in the discussions. While recognizing the Compact’s potential, the delegation emphasized the importance of relaunching it with a renewed focus on delivering tangible, sustainable and development-oriented impacts. They underscored that investments should align closely with Africa’s development priorities, foster economic resilience, and be grounded in principles of mutual respect and transparent partnership that benefit both Africa and its international collaborators.

Further, the delegation called for a revitalization of the G20 Common Framework (CF) to make it more inclusive and development-oriented. Key recommendations included the inclusion of middle-income countries currently excluded from the framework, the introduction of a debt standstill or moratorium during restructuring negotiations, the adoption of a binding Comparability of Treatment model to ensure equitable burden-sharing among creditors, and enhanced Debt Sustainability Analyses (DSA) that account for countries’ investment needs and climate vulnerabilities. Notably, Germany expressed willingness to support these pragmatic adjustments to the CF, emphasizing collaboration without the necessity for a complete overhaul.

Looking ahead to South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025 and the next G20 Presidency of the US, both Germany and the African Union reiterated their strong commitment to advancing multilateralism and fostering closer collaboration. Despite increasing pressures on the global multilateral system, both sides highlighted the importance of solidarity, ongoing dialogue, and shared responsibility as essential pillars for addressing global challenges and ensuring a more inclusive, equitable international order.