Looking South

The pictures were well chosen: A group of cute Ethiopian kids, representing poverty in Africa, where Germany sends humanitarian aid. An emotional handshake with the legendary Nelson Mandela, who stands more than anyone else for the emancipation and democratization of the continent. Economically flourishing landscapes on the Cape that stand for South Africa as Germany's strongest economic partner. And at the end of the trip, Africa's power woman, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who wants to liberate Liberia from the tragic legacy of civil war.

Foreign policy is more than photo shoots. The fact that Germany put the continent on the top of the agenda during its G8 presidency is much more important than the chancellor's first Africa visit. Merkel acted as an advocate for the neighboring continent during the G8 conference in Heiligendamm and it was Germany's European Council presidency that paved the way for the upcoming EU-Africa summit in December -- the first meeting of its kind in seven years.

The seven-year gap reveals what the lively diplomacy toward Africa only tries to cover up -- that is, the lack of communication between Europe and Africa. It's bizarre that after decades of difficult relations, visitors from Europe show up in Africa and claim they are there to ask questions and learn something.

Europe's politicians are still looking for the answer to Africa's problems. Each one of them is searching in its own way for the key that fits all the countries on the continent -- the African panacea.

But such a key doesn't exist, and neither the African Union nor the development organizations can create one. In order to ensure development, peace and stability in the 48 states in sub-Saharan Africa, 48 different policies have to be found. While there are places -- like the Sahel region -- that will always be primarily dependent on development aid, straight-lined economic cooperation is essential to the others.

Europe must respond to these differences audibly and with one voice. It has to formulate common interests and reach agreements. The problem is that the European leaders come alone and only speak for their own country. Sarkozy toured Africa, even beyond the francophone region, together with a large economic delegation. Great Britain still maintains relations to its former colonies.

In Africa, it's more apparent than anywhere else that a common European foreign policy is an illusion. Here, each country looks out for itself. African critics are right when they call this a policy of post-colonial interests. In this way, Europe continues to lose ground to China, the powerhouse in the East, and Africa is still the loser, regardless of how much development money is pumped into it.

The chancellor has recognized this and that's why she's working toward a stronger common European policy on Africa. It's easier for Germany, because it has fewer personal interests than some of its neighbors.

The Africa-EU summit in December will reveal whether Merkel is able to convince her European partners or not. The objective is ambitious: coherence rather than a checkerboard foreign policy based on old colonial borders.

Instead of conflict over distribution among the development, foreign policy and economic departments, the focus will be on combining different political sectors. This is something Germany is not particularly good at.

In the end, the collage of nice Africa pictures, which added a colorful touch to the chancellor's recent trip, doesn't make for an Africa policy.

Ute Schaeffer is head of DW-RADIO's Africa program. (kjb)