Geopolitik am Horn von Afrika: Regionale Stabilität und externe Akteure (EN)

The paper examines the transformation of German-African energy relations, moving from a focus on energy poverty and development aid to a complex mix of energy diplomacy, strategic resource interests, and hydrogen technology. It highlights a tension between 'green objectives' (renewables) and 'fossilist objectives' (LNG imports), while warning against 'energy colonialism' in large-scale projects. The author advocates for a transition toward 'energy justice' and a value-chain approach to hydrogen to ensure equitable benefits for African nations.

• German-African energy relations have historically been dominated by development cooperation focusing on energy poverty and decentralized renewables, with Germany committing US$ 3.61 billion in development finance to Sub-Saharan Africa for energy between 2002 and 2020.
• Current German energy diplomacy in Africa is split between a 'green objective'—promoting renewable energy markets in countries like Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, and Namibia—and a 'fossilist objective' aimed at diversifying gas imports, such as plans to import liquified natural gas from Senegal.
• The roll-out of hydrogen diplomacy reflects Germany's need to decarbonize its heavy industry and maintain technological leadership, but it risks repeating 'technocratic entitlement' by treating Southern terrains as 'empty' and ignoring risks to water security and land rights.
• There is a trend toward the 'financialisation of development' in initiatives like the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), where projects must be 'bankable' and guarantee returns for investors, potentially marginalizing projects in conflict-prone regions or those focused solely on social needs.
• The author recommends replacing the traditional import/export dichotomy with a 'hydrogen value chain' approach and mainstreaming 'energy justice' (distributive, procedural, recognitional, restorative, and epistemic) into official agreements to prevent neocolonial patterns.

APA

Müller, F. (2023). Geopolitik am Horn von Afrika: Regionale Stabilität und externe Akteure (EN). Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/de/geopolitik-horn-von-afrika-regionale-stabilitaet-en

Chicago

Müller, Franziska. Geopolitik am Horn von Afrika: Regionale Stabilität und externe Akteure (EN). Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/de/geopolitik-horn-von-afrika-regionale-stabilitaet-en.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Müller |first1=Franziska |title=Geopolitik am Horn von Afrika: Regionale Stabilität und externe Akteure (EN) |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=3 April 2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/de/geopolitik-horn-von-afrika-regionale-stabilitaet-en |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mller2023geopolitik, author = {Müller, Franziska}, title = {{Geopolitik am Horn von Afrika: Regionale Stabilität und externe Akteure (EN)}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = apr, url = {https://afripoli.org/de/geopolitik-horn-von-afrika-regionale-stabilitaet-en}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }