The United States and the European Union have pledged to deepen their strategic partnership with Africa, saying they are aligned on priority regional files and longer-term development goals.
Speaking after a meeting in Brussels with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Massoud Boulos said the talks covered Libya, Sudan, Morocco and the Great Lakes region, as well as cooperation on regional security and economic development.
Boulos said Washington and Brussels agreed to maintain close coordination on political and humanitarian responses, including on Western Sahara, which he described as a sensitive issue in regional relations. Both sides, he added, are seeking peaceful, sustainable solutions that bolster stability in North and East Africa.
On Sudan, Boulos reiterated US support for the international Quartet’s roadmap to end the fighting, calling it a genuine opening to resolve one of the continent’s most complex humanitarian emergencies. He stressed that any ceasefire and political settlement must be owned by Sudanese actors, with the international community providing political and logistical backing.
The talks also reviewed Libya, with an emphasis on preserving the country’s unity and supporting national reconciliation efforts. On the Great Lakes, Boulos said discussions focused on de-escalation steps tied to efforts toward a Democratic Republic of Congo–Rwanda peace track, including the need to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and affiliated armed groups. He noted both sides urged separation of forces and the lifting of heightened defensive postures adopted by Rwanda along the border once security conditions allow.
Boulos framed his remarks as part of a wider diplomatic tour aimed at reinforcing US engagement on the continent and aligning positions with European partners amid rapidly shifting political and security dynamics.
Backing Africa’s future, he said, also means mobilizing investment. The US and EU, he announced, will act “in lockstep” to promote projects in energy, infrastructure and critical-minerals supply chains, arguing that the continent’s stability and growth are essential to global security and sustainable development.
Conflicts and political instability continue to weigh on parts of Africa, including Sudan, where war between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces has raged since mid-April 2023, killing thousands and displacing millions. Regional tensions in Libya and the Great Lakes also persist, even as international efforts intensify to find negotiated solutions.
