It’s an open secret that China has long recognized. For many years now, China has been Africa’s most significant investor and trade partner, pouring money into building infrastructure and developing industrial and commercial centers, and thereby winning a lot of friends on the continent. Long before the Ukraine war, Russia was making efforts to build relationships with African states, especially in terms of military and security matters. That is especially clear in Mali, where Russia is taking over the role formerly played by Germany and France. The USA is also pursuing security-related and economic interests in Africa. Africa has an abundance of options to choose from when it comes to international partners – from China and Russia to the USA and Turkey. These countries are all discovering the continent’s enormous potential. But although Europe is geographically much closer to Africa than China or Russia are, we Europeans seem reluctant to make use of this strategic advantage. Stronger relations with Africa are not only important when it comes to security and the economy, but also geopolitically, as the global center of gravity drifts inexorably towards Asia. Unless we engage with Africa, Europe’s influence on the world stage will wane. It should go without saying that strong, close, stable relations with Africa also have a positive impact on security and migration. Because people who have promising careers, who found companies and create jobs for others, people who have prospects in their own country will not seek their future in Europe or elsewhere.