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Natural gas as a “common concern”: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz with Senegalese President Macky Sall
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
At the start of his trip to Africa, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised help to the countries on the continent affected by the global food crisis and offered Senegal cooperation on gas production.
It makes sense to "intensively pursue" such cooperation; this is a "common concern," said the Chancellor after talks with Senegalese President Macky Sall in Dakar.
It is about the development of a gas field off the West African coast, in which Mauritania and Senegal are also involved.
Discussions have begun, said Scholz: "Following these talks, we will continue this very intensively at the technical level." Sall emphasized that Senegal was ready to supply Europe with gas.
The Chancellor also showed his willingness to cooperate more closely on renewable energies.
At the end of his stay in Dakar, he visited a solar plant.
Food crisis "we mustn't leave us cold"
Regarding the current food crisis, the Chancellor warned that many countries could face great difficulties in feeding their populations.
"That must not leave us cold, it doesn't leave us cold," said Scholz.
Germany will "do everything we can do" to counteract this.
The Russian blockade of wheat exports from Ukraine has caused food prices to rise and exacerbated the crisis, especially in East African countries affected by severe drought.
"Many countries in the world are affected by this war that are far away from it," said Scholz.
The federal government will continue to support aid programs and actively work to ensure that grain exports still succeed.
Three countries in three days
Dakar is the first stop on Scholz's first trip to Africa since he took office six months ago.
Other stops on the three-day trip include Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, and South Africa, the most important partner country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Scholz visits the neighboring continent relatively early.
His predecessor Angela Merkel (CDU) only embarked on her first longer trip to Africa two years after taking office.
So far, the chancellor has only visited his closest allies outside of Europe: the USA, Israel and Japan.
atb/dpa/Reuters