Prime Minister Mark Carney is currently in South Africa for the G20 summit, where he is scheduled to meet with the country’s president. This visit aligns with Canada’s focus on expanding trade beyond North America, with a particular emphasis on Europe and Asia.
While Canada remains committed to its engagement with Africa, the recent federal budget does not allocate any new funding towards the country’s Africa strategy, which was launched in March. Political science professor Edward Akuffo noted that this is the first time Canada has a dedicated strategy for Africa, but expressed concern that Prime Minister Carney has not actively promoted it.
Despite budget cuts to foreign aid, a senior Canadian official confirmed that Canada is still pursuing its Africa strategy, aiming to align funding with Carney’s priorities and the needs of African nations. Canada has invested approximately $4.5 billion in assistance to Africa over the past five years.
One of the recent aid cuts announced by Carney was a reduction in support for a fund combating infectious diseases in Africa. However, Canada announced a $1-billion contribution to the Global Fund before Carney’s arrival in South Africa for the summit, marking a decrease from previous contributions.
There are mixed opinions on the impact of foreign aid cuts, with some experts suggesting that reallocating funds to other investments in Africa could mitigate tensions. However, others, like former adviser Roland Paris, believe that reducing developmental assistance amid growing global crises is regrettable and could hinder Canada’s commitments to climate financing for African countries.
Canada is actively working to strengthen diplomatic and commercial ties with South Africa, with expectations of significant outcomes from Carney’s meeting with President Ramaphosa during the G20 summit.
