Cash and ties of history keep Europe as Africa’s prime partner

ABIDJAN - Hard cash and the intangible ties of history have kept Europe in pole position as Africa’s main partner, even if an influx of Chinese investment is prompting many African countries to look eastward.

Successive years of hefty spending, particularly in infrastructure, have propelled China into the continent’s top slot when calculated in terms of individual investor nations.

But a different picture emerges through the broader prism of Africa’s ties with Europe as a 28-nation bloc.

"Europe is in front, given the shared history," said Pierre Dagbo Gode, science at the Felix Houphouet Boigny University of Abidjan.

"Europe is the premier trade partner, the top investor, the top donor," a European diplomat in Brussels added, speaking ahead of a summit between the EU and African Union in Abidjan that ends today after two days of talks..

According to the Chinese ministry of commerce, trade between China and Africa was worth $149.2bn last year - $92.3bn in exports from China, against $56.9bn of imports.

That made China, for the eighth year, Africa’s foremost individual trade partner - well ahead of France and Germany.

However, trade between the EU and Africa totalled €286bn in 2015 ($341bn at current rates) with a €22bn surplus in Europe’s favour.

Europe also contributed about €21bn in foreign aid - more than the US and China combined.

"When people say Europe has let China overtake it, you have to keep things in perspective," said an EU diplomat in Abidjan.