Summiteering Africa: The maiden Africa-Korea Summit

Africa’s 54 states have three rotating seats on the UN Security Council, thus representing an important bloc in the UN system. Africa’s potential and rich natural resource deposits are undisputed.

The continent provides a good source of mineral deposits for the technology industry. Hence, deposits of nickel, cobalt, graphite, and lithium, among others, have been reported in commercial quantities. These natural resources serve as important raw materials for batteries, semiconductors, and electric cars.

In June this year, the maiden summit of Africa-Korea was held in Seol. The two-day summit saw 48 countries represented, including heads of state and government of 25 countries and representatives of 23 other countries. Also in attendance was Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU Chairperson.

The summit, which was an initiative of South Korea, strategically focused on two broad areas: a) cooperation on Africa’s mineral resources; and b) diplomatic support for South Korea against its northern neighbour (North Korea) regarding the latter’s development of missiles and nuclear weapons.

At the close of the summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged a US$ 14 billion export credit package for South Korean companies to venture into businesses in Africa and a US$ 10 billion development assistance package by 2030. South Korea also pledged continuous work to ensure peace and security in Africa through its Navy unit’s support in the Somali waters as well as the support for constructions in South Sudan under the UN peacekeeping mission.

Participating countries promised greater collaboration to build sustainable infrastructure, including data-smart cities and enhanced transportation systems. They agreed to commence high-level talks to improve cooperation on minerals, dubbed the “critical mineral dialogue”.

In the joint declaration, summit participants reaffirmed their commitment to full implementation of the UN Security Council resolution on North Korea and underscored the need for the international community to achieve a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearized Korean peninsula.

Forty-seven (47) agreements were signed with 23 countries on the margins of the summit. Amongst others, South Korea agreed to provide a concessional loan of US$ 2.5 billion to Tanzania over 5 years and US$ 1 billion to Ethiopia over 4 years for purposes of support in health, infrastructure, science and technology, and urban development needs.

‘Summiteering Africa’:

The quest for Africa’s natural resources by industrial and industrializing countries is an overly flogged subject matter. Africa’s natural resources have historically been the subject of exploitation, and there seems to be no end in sight. The phenomenon presents important development discourse and global geopolitical considerations.

The emerging cooperation on mineral resources in the present circumstance (Africa-South Korea) provokes a critical question, particularly in light of what seems to be a growing trend—'Summiteering ‘frica'—a ph phenomenon where individual sovereign countries are meeting the entire continent of 54 countries. Accordingly, we already have the US-Africa Summit; China-Africa Summit; Japan-Africa Summit; France-Africa Summit; Russia-Africa Summit; Italy-Africa Summit.

Summit, etc. When will these ‘Summiteering’ of Africa end? What are the real benefits?

All these summits will usually revolve around social and economic collaboration laced with strategic diplomatic overtures. Importantly, the focus has largely been on penetrating the African market and securing the supply of natural resource deposits. The scramble for Africa’s resources is manifest and undisputable.

Critical questions ought to be asked if African leaders are strategic about natural resource management. Africa has hardly spoken with one voice, exhibited a common plan, or put forward clear policies for these summits. Rather, individual countries engage and secure agreements based on their respective social, economic, and political considerations. In this maiden June summit, it was obvious that South Korea wanted to build a political clout and ensure access to

natural resources and build soft power.

For a continent-to-country summit, Africa appears to be dissipating its collective strength. Where does the African Union (AU) fall in the scheme of these conferences? One wonders why the AU can’t strategically represent the continent and engage on behalf of its member countries. The divided or individualistic tendency seems unfavorable to the continent’s development interests.

Even as President William Ruto of Kenya lamented about this continent-to-country arrangement last year, he was happily present in Seol, just as were the other 22 heads of state and government. African leaders must wake up!!! With bulging youth unemployment (32.6% in 2023, the global highest) and the potential security implications, African leaders must stop the natural resource dissipation. Efforts must be invested to enhance local content and add value to the so-called “critical mineral dialogue.”

All opportunities to reduce joblessness must be explored. Leaders must work towards an enhanced revenue stream, with the same being invested in critical areas of infrastructure deficits. Guaranteed returns on natural resources should be tailored towards sustainable development. Our leaders must help change the narrative for future and unborn generations.

Long live Pan-Africanism!!!