Mathias Kamp

"BRICS Plus" - Brief analysis Sub-Saharan Africa

For the first time in its history, the BRICS Summit took place on the African continent in Johannesburg. The theme of the summit, "BRICS and Africa: A Partnership for Growth, Sustainable Development and Multilateralism", also reflects the BRICS' growing interest in Africa. In addition to the fact that two African countries, Egypt and Ethiopia, will be accepted as full members of the alliance from 2024, the participation of 30 African heads of state and government at the summit also manifests the importance that African countries now attach to the BRICS. South Africa and Ethiopia, as current and designated member states, as well as Nigeria and Kenya, which are regarded as regional powers and influential geopolitical players, are paying particularly close attention to the topic. In many other sub-Saharan African countries, however, it plays a rather subordinate role in public and political discourse.

Interest-based Policy Rather than a Save-the-World Approach

Why German Development Cooperation with Africa Must Be Reconsidered

Germany’s interests in Africa are self-evident. They range from business and security to political partnership in the context of global systemic rivalry. But is Germany making use of all its options to preserve its interests on the neighbouring continent? The answer to this is: no! Particularly in view of the immense investments that Germany is making in the field of development cooperation, the question must be raised as to whether these investments could not be made in a much more targeted manner – to the benefit of the African partners, but also in our own interest.

Of the Child Who Never Learned to Walk

South Sudan’s Statehood: A Story of Failure

When South Sudan became the 55th African country to march into independence in July 2011 following five painful decades of conflict with (North) Sudan, there was a great sense of euphoria. But less than three years later, South Sudan was the frontrunner in an unfortunate category: the 2014 Fragile States Index ranking identified it as the most fragile state in the world. In the meantime, a brutal civil war broke out after the first government collapsed. It was not until 2018 that the warring parties were able to agree on a shaky peace treaty, the implementation of which continues to be difficult to this day. South Sudan’s statehood is a story of failure. A search for explanations.

Eskalation der Nahrungsmittelkrise in Ostafrika: Eine mehrfach verschärfte Tragödie

Im Schatten des russischen Angriffskrieges auf die Ukraine findet eine andere Tragödie nur wenig Beachtung: Millionen von Menschen in Ostafrika sind akut von einer eskalierenden Hungersnot bedroht. Dürre und weitere verschärfende Faktoren haben zu einer katastrophalen Lage beigetragen. Die Auswirkungen des Ukraine-Krieges werden die Lage in der Region noch verschärfen.