Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Berlin on April 14 to coordinate a response to the Sudanese conflict. The meeting served as a prelude to the Sudan Conference on April 15, an event timed to coincide with the anniversary of the start of the war. While the German government is positioning itself as a central partner for the AU, the diplomatic effort arrives amid a stark contradiction in Berlin’s own budget.
Germany faces a 2.2 billion euro funding gap for Sudan
The humanitarian plan for Sudan reached only 40 percent of its funding target last year. This left a shortfall of approximately 2.2 billion euro, which effectively blocked millions of people from receiving life-saving aid. Berlin is now attempting to pressure other donor nations to fill this void during the April 15 conference.
Germany’s role as a coordinator is complicated by its own fiscal retreat. The federal government more than halved its budget for global humanitarian aid starting in 2025. This internal cut mirrors a broader trend of budget reductions across many donor countries, leaving the AU to warn that Sudan risks being abandoned to its fate without a massive mobilization of funds and media attention.
Merz is linking humanitarian aid to long-term trade goals
Friedrich Merz isn’t treating the Sudan crisis as an isolated charity project. He told Youssouf that the EU is already Africa’s primary investor and trading partner, with a volume of 350 billion euro, but he wants to scale this through a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and the AU. He views the continent as an emerging market with growth projections hitting 8 percent.
Energy independence is a specific pillar of this strategy. Merz pointed to the fact that Africa holds 60 percent of the world’s solar potential. The EU is currently funneling more than 500 million euro into the African energy transition to make these nations more resilient to external shocks, such as the price spikes for oil and fertilizer caused by the war in Iran.
Berlin is trading diplomatic support for UN influence
The diplomacy in the Kanzleramt extends to the United Nations. Merz expressed support for granting African states two permanent seats on the UN Security Council. This is a calculated move. Germany is currently campaigning for a non-permanent seat on the same council and needs the 54 votes held by African nations in the UN General Assembly to secure it.
On the ground in Sudan, Berlin is backing a coalition including the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt to broker a ceasefire. The April 15 conference isn’t just about money; it’s designed to offer Sudanese civil society and non-military actors a platform to push for a civilian-led transition of power.
It’s a classic piece of realpolitik. Berlin is offering a mix of high-level diplomatic validation and future trade promises while simultaneously tightening the purse strings on the immediate, raw humanitarian needs of the people in the conflict zone.
Why is Germany hosting the conference if they cut their own aid?
Berlin is leveraging its role as a diplomatic hub to pressure other wealthy nations to increase their contributions. By organizing the event, Germany maintains its influence and leadership in Africa policy even while its direct financial contributions have decreased.
How much money is actually missing for Sudan?
The shortfall is roughly 2.2 billion euro. Because only 40 percent of the previous year’s humanitarian plan was funded, a significant portion of the required aid never reached the population.
What does the trade deal with the AU actually involve?
Merz is pushing for a comprehensive free trade zone between the EU and the AU. This would likely focus on energy exports, specifically solar power, and opening African markets to European investment to capitalize on the continent’s high growth rates.
