Africa strategy back on the table, as Ottawa heralds new embassies, security projects

By Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press on November 7, 2024.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, as they meet on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA – The federal Liberals have revived their plan to launch an Africa strategy, and are announcing new embassies and anti-terrorism projects on the continent.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Ottawa is earmarking $54.4 million for initiatives aimed at peacebuilding in war-torn Sudan, counterterrorism in West Africa and combating biological threats.

Joly also says Ottawa will also open a new embassy in Benin and a high commission in Zambia, while announcing a special envoy for Africa as a whole, and one for the Sahel region.

Canada is also working to get direct flights to Nigeria and Ghana, and on a plan to have better projects to bridge developing countries from foreign aid to business creation.

The Liberals have been assembling what they first called an Africa strategy for nearly three years, but they downgraded the project last year to call it a framework, and then in August called it an “approach” to the continent.

Yet on Thursday, Joly said there would indeed be a full strategy for the continent.

“We’re working on a new Africa strategy, which we’re all involved in,” she said at a Toronto press conference, flanked by Trade Minister Mary Ng and International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen.

“We want to have stronger cooper operation with the African Union itself and also stronger bilateral relationships with many African countries,” Joly said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to meet this afternoon with the African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.