Introduction

Since 2000, relations between the European Union (EU) and African countries and regional organisations, otherwise known as EU-Africa relations, have been undergoing a dynamic institutional and organizational re-ordering. The establishment of periodic EU-Africa/Africa-EU/AU-EU Summits created the basis for a region-to-region forum bringing together African and European leaders. Further, the launch of the 2007 Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) political framework provided the opportunity to change the power asymmetries between Africa and Europe into one in which Africa’s agency is better realized. Changes have also been abounding on the African side since 2000. In 2000, African leaders re-committed to a new regional institution, the African Union (AU) to replace its lackluster predecessor Organization for African Unity (OAU) created in 1963. The new European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen has made clear that the EU is pivoting to Africa directed by geopolitics.