[Salutation],

The African Peer Review Mechanism is a unique continental endeavour to fostering good governance, transparency, and democratic accountability.

Germany – through the GIZ office to the African Union – since long is supporting this Pan-African initiative focused on promoting self-assessment, strengthening institutions, and facilitating peer learning across African states.

It is our conviction that democracy, the rule of law and the respect of Human rights are the fundaments of sustainable and equitable development for all of us.

And APRM is a powerful tool to built on these fundaments and to construct an African Mansion designed to bridge divides, to overcome the challenges and assume Africa’s rightful position in the new global landscape.

In these troubled times of conflict, new positioning and global crisis, APRM is also a shining example of the chances and opportunities created by a joint approach grounded in mutual interests and common understandings.

Germany wants to invest in this kind of partnerships much more strongly and consciously than before. To this end we recently revised the Federal Government’s Africa Policy Guidelines to create political points of reference for all German departmental or thematic strategies related to Africa.

And that is also the approach we are pursuing with our foreign policy.

Or to say it with the words of former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock:

[Quote:]

“To create genuine partnerships - ones in which everyone decides for themselves ”where his or her dreams go“.

In which everyone acts in their own interests - and in which we work together to find solutions that serve these interests.”

[Unquote]

Consequently, the Africa Policy Guidelines are structured around four focus areas aligned with our interests for future cooperation with African states:

• Jointly addressing global challenges (e.g., combating climate change or reforming the global governance structure).
• Creating sustainable growth, increased economic exchange, and business co-operation, local value creation, and diversification of supply chains (e.g., by further developing the G20 Compact with Africa to improve the invest-ment climate in Africa).
• Strengthening democratic resilience as well as education, science, and innovation (e.g., by addressing our German colonial past).
• Promoting security, peace, and sustainable stability (e.g., by integrating climate, peace, and security).

And in view of the changing global order for Germany one thing is paramount:

The preservation and further development of the rules-based international order on the basis of international law, the universal application of human rights and the United Nations Charter. The aim of our foreign and security policy is to maintain peace in freedom and security. Hence, my country will provide Ukraine with comprehensive support so that it can effectively defend itself against the Russian aggressor waging an imperial war.

In doing so, Germany - this is the agreement of the political parties carrying the incoming government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz - will continue to work worldwide to combat poverty, hunger and inequality and to achieve the international sustainability goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Our common interest is in a world where rules make life safer for ALL citizens. This is what the United Nations Charter guarantees to every state in the world.

In this regard, Germany continuous campaigning for African voices to have a greater say when it comes to solving global problems together, for a permanent African presence on the UN Security Council, for a greater say in the International Monetary Fund and greater representation at the World Bank.

That is what Germany is campaigning for.

In this regard, let me once again quote former Foreign Minister Baerbock:

[Quote:]

“This is not a charity campaign - it is in our hard security interests. Because this is the only way to strengthen our common rules. Because otherwise we will not create solutions for the 21st century and stable peace - neither for Europe, nor for Africa, nor anywhere else.

That is why we also say very clearly:

We have a strong interest in peace, security and prosperity in West Africa. Because the security of the people is important to us. Yes.

But also, because we have an interest in a stable neighbouring continent. Because we need each other”.

[Unquote]

This policy will be continued by the new German government headed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The coalition agreement clearly pointed out:

[Quote]

“We want an Africa policy that does justice to Africa's strategic importance. The African Union is an important partner for us. We want to support the implementation of the African Free Trade Area. A special focus must be placed on stabilizing the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, particularly in order to combat terrorism …”

[Unquote].

It also states:

[Quote]

“We will intensify bilateral relations with the countries of the Global South”.

[Unquote]

In this regard the subject of this conference on the role of the Global South in reshaping the New International Order is not only timely, but of utmost importance.

And it is a clear sign of this new order that Sierra Leone, a country of which most of my compatriots still think of as a war shuffled country, has taken mayor initiatives to form Africa’s unity by organising last year’s first Security Council debate on the overdue reform of the UN Security Council, by organising recently the retreat of the C-10 permanent representatives to the AU and the UN here in Freetown and now of hosting this third high-level forum of the African Peer Review Mechanism.

It is also an encouraging signal, that Sierra Leone recently created the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), reinforcing our host country’s commitment to good governance, transparency and democratic accountability as fundamental basis of sustainable development.

Germany stays committed to support this development. For us South-South-cooperation is not exclusive but a decisive step to implement our partnership-based approach grounded in mutual interests, respect, reciprocity, and open dialogue. For instance, Germany’s triangular cooperation creates new opportunities and combines new approaches. Partners develop their roles dynamically, generate added value compared to bilateral cooperation: all sides learn, share their experience and knowledge, and take on responsibility. A perfect example for good partnership to the benefit of ALL.

I could not imagine a better place today than Freetown to listen to our African Partners on how to built better partnerships

for a better future for all,

for sustainable development

based on

democracy, good governance, transparency, accountability, the rule of law and the respect for Human Rights.

I wish this forum successful deliberations on reinforced partnerships to which Germany stays committed.

Thank you