ADEKEYE ADEBAJO: Highs and lows of relations between the AU and EU
The European bloc is Africa’s largest investor but migration remains a source of tension
As the AU and EU prepare for a postponed summit later in 2021, the AU declared a Continental Free Trade Area into existence in January in a bid to unite a continent of 1-billion inhabitants in 55 territories, from the Cape to Casablanca.
The 27-member EU has brought together 447-million people from Sofia to Stockholm to create the world’s only truly supranational body. This is, however, two clubs of rich and poor nations: while the EU has a GDP of $15-trillion, Africa’s GDP is $2.3-trillion; while 60% of the EU’s trade takes place within its borders, only about 14% of African commerce is within the continent...
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