G20 foreign ministers are set to meet in Germany to discuss ways to tackle poverty in Africa, strengthen governmental institutions and better utilise the potential of many African countries, German ministry officials said.
Germany, keen to improve conditions in Africa and halt a growing stream of economic refugees fleeing to Europe, has made cooperation with Africa a centerpiece of its presidency of the Group of 20 largest industrialized countries.
The EU is also seeking ways to curb immigration from Africa, which is projected to rise after 181,000 people arrived last year, and an estimated 4,500 believed to have died while crossing the Mediterranean Sea, often in flimsy boats.
“Foreign policy is and must be more than crisis management,” German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement before the meeting. “We are well advised not to continually be running from one fire to another with a fire extinguisher.”
During the meeting that will take place in Bunn, the foreign ministers will also discuss the war in Syria, violence in eastern Ukraine and other global crises.
