By
Kester Kenn Klomegah
Africa-Press – Lesotho. The geopolitical situation is driving the European Commission to step up its investment influence across Africa, making consistent efforts at capitalizing on and exploring several emerging opportunities in the continent. In practical reality, to reinforce its influence, the European Commission has directed its policy focus on promoting sustainable energy development during this last quarter of 2025. Unlocking new business and investment opportunities, including in the areas of manufacturing and agro-processing as well as regional and continental value chain development, forms aspects of raising confidence among a number of African countries.
The European Commission’s report explicitly indicated that this approach mirrors the new strategy and is within the context of geopolitical rivalry and competition. Its policy titled “Global Gateway Strategy” primarily aims at refining the dynamic partnerships and advancing step-by-step for establishing bilateral mutual benefits with Africa. In terms of reciprocity, African leaders and businesspeoplemust explore available possibilities and windows that have been opened, as Europe has unveiled a €300 billion (US$340 billion) alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative—an investment program the bloc claims will create links, not dependencies.
In the latest report, Europe has allocated €618 million for renewable energy projects across Africa, according to the latest reports of the European Commission. The funds are for implementing these projects in eight African countries. In Kenya, the €55 million project is the green energy system to increase generation of and strengthen the power grid. In Uganda, with €60 million, the project will electrify rural areas with a population of over 250,000 people. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, funding is for electrifying the city of Kisangani and the surrounding areas, and in Mauritania, €125 million is allocated for creating a regional energy transport corridor for a rapidly growing population.
In Nigeria, €20 million is for planned technical support and for scaling up renewable solutions, particularly for farmers and small businesses, while in Cape Verde, €39 million is given for the expansion of wind generation and energy storage systems as part of the Cabeolica project. In addition, €30 million is allocated to strengthen the energy system between Zambia and Tanzania, and the largest funding—€199 million—is for Togo, where a renewable energy and energy storage project is implemented in the city of Kpalime.
In an opinion article published by AllAfrica.com, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has expressed candid views about the economic progress on the continent and the outstanding challenges and the unfolding opportunities there. According to the IMF director, Africa is on a new sustainable growth trajectory. But this transition is costly—at least initially—for a region that already strives to finance other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and as a result, some of these development initiatives must be shared by the international community.
Despite the new challenges, it has become important to strengthen dialogues and focus on the search for more effective financial ways to scale up sustainable development in Africa. The European Commission has to keep in mind and try to incorporate the economic diplomacy with the continent, particularly most aspects of directions that meet the commitments of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
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