Economic refugees, asylum seekers, skilled workers, war refugees: anyone listening to European politicians in debates or on social media today can lose track of realities. Anyone who gets caught in Germany between the fronts of the populist debate with the right-wing party called AfD often completely loses touch with reality and has no chance of really understanding the intricacies of the issue of asylum and immigration. And this will only increase in the course of the German federal elections in 2025 and the campaign to fish on the fringes of the political extreme right.
Another victim of this situation is the view that many people have of Africa and the role that this large continent will and must play in a few decades if Europe wants to have a future. Refugee issues as well as poverty and hunger scenarios on the continent of Africa obscure many facts, for example:
Africa will account for more than half of the world’s young working population in 25 years’ time. Consumption and value creation will take place on this continent.
Africa possesses a large proportion of the mineral resources that are required for the further development of technology.
Particularly in the field of communication technology and renewable energy, Africa is leapfrogging many of the stages in which Europe is still caught up.
But Africa will only be able to play this role if it is prepared. This includes an exchange of information and skills on an equal footing. It also requires Europeans to realise that many environmental and status issues cannot continue in this way, with the corresponding practical consequences. It also includes a real end to colonial thinking and a corresponding development policy.
This also includes an end to the unspeakable refugee policy of European countries, which, instead of genuinely tackling the causes on an equal footing, repeatedly fall back into the old patterns: building walls, pushing refugees onto each other and often ignoring the historical causes and future realities. It is precisely here that the lack of imagination and foresight in politics and the limits of a European spirit of joint political action become very clear.
Of course, Africa and many of the 54 states must also do their homework. This certainly includes the issue of co-operation, but also honesty in looking at their own history and the relations between African countries. Corruption remains an important issue, as does democracy in African culture.
Ultimately, this includes, above all, providing young people in Africa with an education and training that is geared towards this future. Really looking at what the jobs of the future will be. Realising how climate change will change the conditions for human life and work, especially on this continent.
The challenges are complex – and only together will there be a future for the people of both continents. If the ‘America first’ policy in President-elect Trump’s version becomes reality, then it is high time for Europe to wake up and look to its neighbour Africa.
And this is where the many non-governmental organisations come into play. They can become a bridge of communication, learning and engagement at eye level for politics and business. For a good future to become a reality, business and NGOs in particular must give up their normal dance for a little charity and donations and develop joint synergies to enable life, health and a good education on both continents.
The issue is complex and certainly sometimes difficult to communicate to people who have lost confidence in politics. Here too, the NGO level can often assist with the credibility of arguments.
See the original German text under the headline: “Texte in Deutsch“
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