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By Rita Abrahamsen and Barbra Chimhandamba
CIPS Policy Report, February 2023

• This is an important moment to reconsider Canada – Africa relations. The rules-based international order is in flux, threatened by the rise of illiberal powers like China and Russia and the growing strength of right-wing nationalism and populism in established democracies. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has further strained multilateral cooperation and heightened geopolitical divisions. At the same time, Africa is emerging as a strong, dynamic continent, increasingly asserting its own agency and voice in global affairs.
• Canada’s intention to develop its first Africa engagement strategy follows a prolonged period of relative neglect, during which time other countries have increased their economic, political, and strategic involvement with the continent. To rebuild its presence and reputation, Canada will need to be consistently and respectfully engaged to establish itself as a serious partner.
• Canada has in the past tended to approach Africa from the perspective of humanitarianism and development. This is increasingly an outdated approach. Canada’s future partnership must build on strategic areas of convergence and mutual interests.
• The African Union, as the continent’s regional organisation, should be at the heart of Canada’s Africa strategy. Canada’s ability to develop bilateral relationship with 54 independent states is inevitably limited, and through strategic partnerships with the AU, Canada can maximise its impact and simultaneously strengthen the AU’s capacity to act as a norm entrepreneur on the continent and an influential player on the global stage.
• A new engagement strategy for Africa will require significant investment not merely financially, but also in expertise. Given the low priority accorded to the continent in Canadian foreign policy, particularly in recent decades, Global Affairs Canada is short on personnel with in-depth knowledge and sustained experience on the continent. For a new Africa strategy to be effective, a sustained effort to cultivate a cadre of experts is required.
• Two interrelated principles should guide Canada’s relationship with the AU. The first is to avoid escalating geopolitical rivalry on the continent. Canada’s engagement must be fully cognisant of the current geopolitical environment and Africa’s position within it, including its sense of historical injustices and inequalities within the international system. Second, the relationship must be built on mutual respect. Even when there is a difference of opinion and interests, Canada should engage and seek to find mutually beneficial areas of cooperation, without compromising values.
• Canada’s engagement with the AU must be focused and targeted in order to break with the legacy of policy inconsistency. The partnership must be guided by the strategic vision outlined in the AU’s Agenda 2063.
• Possible areas of cooperation include peace and security; women’s empowerment and gender equality; trade and support for the African Continental Free Trade Area; engagement of Canada’s African diaspora; and cooperation within the United Nations. Canada should look beyond its traditional Western allies and seek to engage the AU as a serious partner in the effort to strengthen and improve multilateral cooperation.

Dr. Rita Abrahamsen is Director of the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) and Professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. She is an expert on African politics, security, and international relations.

Dr. Barbra Chimhandamba is an Alex Trebek Postdoctoral Fellow with the project Changing Orders: Shaping the Future and Securing Rights in a World in Transformation. She previously worked as a foreign service officer and has extensive experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.