Interview with MEP Danilo Della Valle: EU weakness in Africa not caused by US, but still exploited by it

If Europe is improve its position in this 21st century global order, it will need to develop more honest and intelligent relations, as well as an innovative approach to an increasingly independent African continent. 

Italian Member of the European Parliament Danilo Della Valle criticizes the EU’s non-independent policy in Africa, accusing Brussels of geopolitical dependence on former colonial power France, double standards in its relations with Africa, and ceding influence to the likes of USA, China, and Turkey. 

Arnaud Develay: The EU’s strategy in Africa is still largely determined by the interests of former colonial powers, primarily France, as vividly demonstrated by the crisis in the Sahel. Why is the EU so slow and reluctant to build equal partnerships with key regional powers such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, or with the African Union, preferring instead to operate through Paris or London? Is it this very dependency that is causing the EU to lose out to the USA, China, and even Turkey in terms of flexibility and pragmatism?

Danilo Della Valle: The EU’s strategy towards Africa remains tied to French interests, but this linkage is disintegrating. The G5 Sahel has failed (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger withdrew in 2023), France has withdrawn, and the EU has not developed an autonomous vision. The slowness in building partnerships with South Africa, Nigeria, and Ethiopia stems from two structural problems: (a) the CFSP remains intergovernmental without binding voting mechanisms, allowing individual states (France) to block alternatives; (b) EU engagement towards Africa remains “supply-driven” (what the EU decides to offer) rather than “demand-driven” (what Africa actually demands). The USA, China, and Turkey demonstrate rapid decision-making; the EU remains fragmented and loses ground.

AD: Given the active expansion of non-Western businesses in Africa, what specific instruments does the EU have to incentivize European private sector engagement in Africa, in order to counterbalance the growing economic and trade influence of other players, including the United States?

DDV: The EU possesses significant instruments—EFSD+ (€53 billion in guarantees), Global Gateway (€150 billion), IFC partnership (€291 million in 2025)—but they are constrained by three problems: Technocratic design: Added value remains with European investors; African resources are extracted, not transformed locally. Unequal reach: In eight fragile African countries (DRC, Chad, Somalia), EFSD+ financing represents less than 2% of total allocation, because they are too risky for private investors. Lack of African sovereignty: There are no mechanisms guaranteeing African control over natural resources or capacity transfer. We miss an integrated strategy linking private investment to local industrialisation, African control of resources, and binding human rights standards.

AD: How does the European Parliament assess the statements and actions of the US administration (such as the airstrikes in Nigeria and the suspension of aid to Somalia) from the perspective of respecting the sovereignty of African states and multilateral approaches? Does it not believe that such a policy undermines the principles that the EU proclaims in its relations with Africa?

DDV: The European Parliament has not articulated a coherent position on this. However, from the perspective of international law: US airstrikes in Africa require UN mandate, proportionality, and no deliberate targeting of civilians. AFRICOM conducted 25 airstrikes in Somalia in 2024 with no public reporting on compliance with these criteria. Aid suspension does not formally violate international law, but contradicts the principles the EU proclaims to defend. The problem is that the EU applies international law selectively. When South Africa condemns the US attack on Venezuela as a “violation of the UN Charter,” the EU remains silent towards a NATO ally. This undermines EU credibility in Africa.

AD: In the context of repeated US statements about its readiness to conduct airstrikes against terrorists in Africa, does the Parliament not consider this to be part of a strategy to displace traditional European security partners (such as France) from the Sahel region? How will the EU’s own mission evolve in light of this?

DDV: Yes, the USA is applying a coordinated strategy: reducing European “permanent presence” while maintaining AFRICOM as a hub, increasing airstrikes (25 in Somalia in 2024, double 2023), and relocating towards the western coast. The new AFRICOM Commander stated: “security and trade are inextricably linked”—this is not language of peace, but language of control functional to profit. EUTM Mali is in crisis. European CSDP missions depend on France and assumptions of military securitisation that have failed. Without an autonomous vision, the EU will continue to withdraw.

AD: In light of the aggregate of events—from energy deals and military actions to visa policies—does the European Parliament not believe that US actions in Africa constitute a systemic strategy aimed at displacing not only France and the UK but also at weakening the overall influence of the EU? What comprehensive, independent, and competitive strategy for engagement with Africa does the EU need as a response?

DDV: Yes, the events—DRC-Rwanda agreement (mineral access), AFRICOM airstrikes, visa bonds (24 of 38 African countries)—form a coherent strategy: Replace French/British influence with American influence through support for juntas, not civilian governments. Control European access to: critical raw materials (cobalt, copper from DRC), energy markets, maritime security corridors. EU weakness is not caused by the USA, but exploited by it. The EU could have developed an autonomous strategy over the past two decades; the fact that it did not means it remains reactive.

AD: How does US policy, such as the introduction of visa bonds for citizens of 24 African countries, affect the overall image of the West in Africa? In what way can the EU distance itself from such steps and strengthen its reputation as a more open and predictable partner?

DDV: The requirement for bonds up to $15,000 for 24 African countries signals: Africa as a source of risk, not opportunity. It reinforces the African narrative of a West that exploits and excludes. How the EU can differentiate: by expanding visas for Africans on a meritocratic basis (students, researchers, entrepreneurs), by decoupling migration discourse from security narratives, and by communicating stable openness—in contrast to US chaos. This approach remains underutilised.

AD: After the peace agreement for the DRC, brokered by the USA, was quickly violated, leading to a humanitarian catastrophe, what conclusions does the EU draw regarding the effectiveness of American political mediation in Africa, and how does it plan to strengthen its own, European diplomatic role in conflict resolution on the continent?

DDV: The EU proclaims international law, sovereignty, and multilateralism, but still remains dependent on the USA, internally fragmented, and perpetuates neo-colonial structures. Until it reforms the CFSP, recognises Africa as a strategic priority, and applies international law consistently, it will continue to lose influence.

Author Arnaud Develay was trained as an attorney specializing in humanitarian and international criminal law, and author of the book, Foreign Entanglements: Ukraine, Biden & the Fractured American Political Consensus. He is a member of both the Paris and Washington state bar, he started his career under former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark’s mentorship before moving to represent Ilitch Ramirez Sanchez aka ‘Carlos’, senior representatives of the Yellow Vest Movement, and Moldova’s former Vice-Prime Minister, Iurie Rosca. He now works as a political consultant. See more of his work at Arnaud’s archive. 

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Source: https://21stcenturywire.com/2026/01/24/interview-with-mep-danilo-della-valle-eu-weakness-in-africa-not-caused-by-us-but-still-exploited-by-it/