In recent years, the UAE has actively intervened in African affairs, establishing and expanding its influence through military bases, port investments, assistance programs, and mediation in regional disputes.
This intertwining of geopolitical and geo-economic strategies has shaped the UAE’s current African policy, leading to complex and far-reaching impacts on the development and security of the region.
Active Expansion of Strategic Presence in Africa
Since the Arab Spring in 2011, the UAE has pursued an assertive foreign policy, aligning closely with the United States globally and Saudi Arabia regionally. This strategy has led to active military interventions and economic initiatives aimed at countering Iran, Qatar, and Turkey in various conflicts. The escalation of geopolitical tensions was particularly evident during the civil war in Yemen starting in 2015 and the Qatar diplomatic crisis in 2017, which prompted a broader spread of instability in the Gulf, extending to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
In response to these conflicts, the UAE established military bases in strategic locations, such as the Port of Assab and the Port of Berbera, enhancing its military footprint and control over vital corridors. However, its military presence in the Horn of Africa diminished by 2019 following the withdrawal of troops from Yemen.
With recent normalization efforts among Gulf states and a reconciliation wave in the Middle East, largely facilitated by China, the UAE has recognized that some of its earlier aggressive policies were counterproductive. Its military interventions in the Horn of Africa complicated regional relations and heightened conflicts, leading to security challenges, including terrorist attacks within the UAE itself. This situation was exacerbated by competing interests with Turkey and Qatar in Somalia, which further destabilized the region.
Starting in 2020, the UAE began adjusting its Africa strategy in response to the easing of geopolitical tensions and the necessity for domestic transformation. The UAE has shifted towards strengthening security partnerships with Horn of Africa nations, focusing on combating piracy, terrorism, and extremism while safeguarding its economic interests. It has signed various counter-terrorism memorandums and military cooperation agreements with countries like Somalia and Ethiopia, aimed at enhancing local military capabilities through training and equipment support.
Additionally, the UAE has sought to broaden its diplomatic reach by establishing cooperative relationships with a range of sub-Saharan African nations. The appointment of Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan as the first minister of state with a focus on African affairs in 2021 reflects this strategic intent. In 2022-2023, Al Nahyan engaged with leaders from several African countries, fostering diplomatic interactions and establishing security partnerships with nations like Senegal, Angola, and Tanzania.
Moreover, the UAE has taken an active role in mediating regional conflicts in Africa to bolster its influence. It partnered with Saudi Arabia in 2018 to facilitate a peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea. In 2023, the UAE engaged in mediation efforts regarding armed conflicts in Sudan, collaborating with various international entities, including the United Nations and the African Union.
In recent years, the UAE has intensified its strategic adjustment towards Africa, marking a significant shift in its economic diplomacy. This change is driven by several factors.
First, the UAE aims to transition from being an external player to a key participant, establishing a lasting strategic presence on the continent. Second, Africa has emerged as a vital area for expanding the UAE’s overseas economic interests. Third, through cooperation with Africa, the UAE seeks to enhance its influence among the countries of the Global South. Lastly, it plans to secure essential mineral resources in Africa to support its own green transformation initiatives.
Internally, the UAE’s aviation, logistics, and tourism sectors have suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic and falling oil prices, prompting a focus on an economy-based foreign policy that significantly boosts trade and investment ties with Africa. From 2019 to 2023, trade between the UAE and Africa surged by 67.3%, with total trade reaching $83.63 billion. Furthermore, between 2012 and 2022, the UAE led Gulf Cooperation Council countries in investments in Africa, totaling $59.4 billion, making it the fourth-largest foreign direct investor on the continent after China, the EU, and the US.
The UAE has prioritized investments in Africa’s infrastructure, clean energy, and key minerals, focusing particularly on port development. Its two largest port groups, Dubai Global Ports and Abu Dhabi Ports, have invested in 14 ports across 11 African nations, enhancing its geostrategic and commercial interests. In 2022-2023, Abu Dhabi Ports expanded its influence by acquiring the Egyptian Maritime Company and securing exclusive rights to the Abu-Amamah port and economic zone in Sudan.
The UAE is also exploring the African property market, with Dubai Investments initiating a large-scale project in Angola. In the clean energy sector, the UAE employs a dual strategy, resisting a rapid fossil fuel phase-out while progressively transitioning to renewable energy. Its financial commitment to Africa’s green energy initiatives is evident through the launch of the Etihad 7 financing platform in January 2022, aimed at providing clean energy access to 100 million people by 2035, alongside a recent $4.5 billion financing program.
UAE companies are actively participating in clean energy projects across Africa, including partnerships in Angola, Uganda, and Tunisia, and significant investments in South Africa. The UAE has also strengthened partnerships with key mineral-rich countries in sub-Saharan Africa to enhance its position in the competitive global minerals market. In 2023, agreements were established for collaboration on tantalum, tungsten, tin, lithium, nickel, and copper extraction, demonstrating the UAE’s commitment to expanding its mining operations across several African nations.
Africa: A Shared Interest of the Gulf Countries
Currently, in light of the easing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region and intensified strategic competition among global powers, Gulf countries are enhancing their sense of strategic autonomy. They are pursuing diversified and balanced foreign policies, deliberately avoiding alignment with major powers while actively cultivating friendly relations with countries of the Global South. This proactive approach aims to create a favorable geopolitical environment for themselves. In recent years, Gulf nations have increasingly focused on deepening their engagement in Africa, accelerating their strategic initiatives and fostering cooperative relationships with African countries.
The Gulf states have significantly bolstered their economic, trade, and investment cooperation with Africa, contributing to the continent’s sustainable development. Over the past decade, investments from Gulf Cooperation Council member states in Africa have exceeded $100 billion. In 2023 alone, Gulf companies initiated 73 foreign direct investment projects in Africa, valued at over $53 billion.
These investments span various sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Agricultural cooperation aims to reduce African countries’ reliance on food imports and enhance food security. Investments in infrastructure are expected to improve connectivity within Africa and facilitate trade and investment, further promoting the development of continental free trade agreements. Additionally, investments in renewable energy will assist Africa in its clean energy transition and address the significant energy supply-demand gap.
However, the geopolitical tug-of-war and resultant proxy conflicts are adversely impacting Africa’s political stability and regional security. The strategic expansion of Gulf states in Africa contributes to a complex geostrategic landscape, particularly in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea regions, where Gulf countries have engaged in fierce competition with their geopolitical rivals.
This rivalry has led to deteriorating conditions and escalating conflicts in the region, exemplified by the recent civil war in Sudan, which highlights the substantial influence of external forces on Africa’s regional and national security. Although the situation in the Horn of Africa has somewhat stabilized, the underlying causes of conflict among neighboring countries remain unresolved.
Source: ishizhi, ISPI, AOW Energy, En.ImArabic
