As African countries and institutions rapidly evolve, so too must Canada's engagement. In a time of global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, Canada must seize opportunities to strengthen economic and national security, including by diversifying its markets; improving supply chain resilience; enhancing peace, security and human rights; and contributing to efforts that build and maintain corridors for critical goods, while promoting local benefits in Africa.
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development; and the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, launched Canada's Africa Strategy: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity and Security-Canada's first global strategy that will drive economic prosperity, security and fairness for both Canadians and Africans for years to come.
Canada's Africa Strategy represents a robust new foreign policy designed to benefit Canadian and African partners, thus contributing to Canada and Africa's collective economic prosperity, as well as to global health, peace and security.
Aligned with the African Union's continental blueprint, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, Canada's Africa Strategy was developed over a 2-year period through extensive consultations with Canadian and international stakeholders and African partners and stakeholders. It will guide Canada's work with African partners by:
- increasing mutually beneficial economic opportunities, including through job creation, infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth
- partnering on peace and security challenges, including preventing and responding to conflict; preventing and countering terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime; and strengthening democracy, human rights and inclusion in decision making
- continued partnership on sustainable development, including investing in African youth skills training and health, strengthening the trade and development nexus and continuing to address the root causes of conflict
- advancing shared priorities on the international stage to address global challenges and mutually beneficial interests, including climate change
- strengthening diplomatic and people-to-people ties at all levels, including via African diaspora communities in Canada, to support Canadian partnerships across all lines of effort
To support the implementation of the Africa Strategy, Minister Joly announced that Ben Marc Diendéré, Canada's Permanent Observer to the African Union, is appointed as Canada's Special Envoy for Africa. Mr. Diendéré will be mandated to engage with high-level stakeholders and work with Canada's heads of mission in the region to advance Canadian interests, including promoting trade.
As part of Canada's engagement to strengthen relationships in the Sahel region, which faces multi-faceted crisis, Minister Joly also appointed Marcel Lebleu, Canada's Ambassador to Senegal, as Special Envoy for the Sahel. Mr. Lebleu will be mandated to strengthen Canada's engagement in the Sahel region, which is dealing with many challenges.
Canada is also strengthening its ties with and presence in African countries and institutions through the expansion of its diplomatic engagement, including by establishing a full high commission in Zambia and a full embassy in Benin and the establishment of a new diaspora-engagement mechanism.
Consistent with Canada's renewed approach with African partners and institutions, Minister Joly announced more than $25.7 million to support projects focused on the protection of Sudanese civilians, including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and human rights defenders; countering violent extremism and promoting stability in conflict-affected border regions of the Sahel and coastal West Africa; and seeking to advance conflict sensitivity, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in Ethiopia.
To support development initiatives that foster stronger trade and investment environments, Canada announced the development of a new Africa trade and development program at Global Affairs Canada. Canada also announced the opening of a FinDev Canada office in South Africa. Minister Hussen announced over $869.5 million to support more than 50 international assistance and humanitarian assistance projects that will contribute to economic prosperity, climate action, governance, global health, and peace and security.
Minister Ng announced that Canada is strengthening economic partnerships for shared prosperity, including by creating a new pan-Africa trade hub and increasing private sector engagement.
These announcements will pave the way for strengthened partnerships at all levels: multilateral, regional and bilateral.
Over the last 5 years, Canada has invested approximately $4.5 billion in bilateral international assistance programming in Africa to help build African economies, support health and education and respond to humanitarian needs. Programming under the strategy will support existing priorities and provide a greater focus on economic cooperation and peace and security partnerships.
Guided by the Africa Strategy and as part of its commitment to results, Canada looks forward to developing even stronger and broader ties with Africa.
