Angela Merkel En Route to Africa
German chancellor, Angela Merkel, left for her three-day trip to Africa on Sunday evening. Merkel will visit various African countries on her trip, which is intended to resolve issues surrounding security and the migrant intake into Europe.
Merkel will visit the West African country of Mali, where German are currently assisting in a UN peacekeeping mission in the country.
The German military also confirmed last week that they would be building a military base in Mali to assist with the peacekeeping mission and also serve to help the European Training Mission in the country.
After her visit to Mali, Merkel will visit neighbouring Niger, after which she will travel to the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa.
Over the weekend, Merkel said in her weekly podcast that Germany has to take a greater interest in Africa:
“…I believe we must take a far greater interest in Africa’s destiny…The well-being of Africa is in Germany’s interest,” she said.
She will be engaging with leaders of Mali, Niger and Ethiopia on her trip.
She will address various issues with the leaders and engage in talks about fighting terrorism on the continent and other migration issues.
Upon returning to Germany next week, Merkel will host two African leaders, including Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari and the president of Chad, Idriss Deby.
