African countries are used to the fact that false promises and fickle friends abound. We’ve seen this with the US, and in the broader architecture of “solidarity” that overpromises and underdelivers.
As the United States retreats from its post-war role as architect of the global order, Africa and Europe are finding new reasons to look to each other. But turning geopolitical necessity into genuine partnership requires more than goodwill — it requires a business-centred approach to cooperation that goes beyond policy declarations.