Scholz’s East Africa tour addresses regional conflict and green energy. On Tuesday, authorities announced German Chancellor Olaf Scholz would visit East Africa this week to discuss the Sudanese issue, help the Ethiopian peace process, and study green hydrogen with Kenya.
Scholz’s three-day travel to Ethiopia and Kenya, which will include a business delegation, is his second as chancellor as the West competes with China for global influence and commerce.
German government sources told a briefing that he would meet with Ethiopia’s prime minister and temporary Tigray leader on Thursday to discuss peace efforts following a two-year war that killed tens of thousands.
He will address Sudan, economic cooperation, and global issues, including climate change, with African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.
He will talk about trade with Kenya’s president on Friday.
The sources claimed Scholz always explained the West’s position and addressed global issues like food hunger and energy pricing when asked about the Ukraine crisis.
Scholz will visit Africa’s largest geothermal facility at Lake Naivasha in the geologically active Great Rift Valley on Saturday, crucial to Kenya’s green hydrogen aspirations.
German officials ruled out a green hydrogen cooperation arrangement.
Instead, the German development agency GIZ will organize a symposium during the visit as part of Germany’s long-standing energy relationship, which gets 90% of its power from renewable sources.
“Kenya is a leader on the African continent on climate protection and renewables and has enormous convening power, so the chancellor’s visit also aims to strengthen that,” one official said.
Officials said Kenya wanted to produce green hydrogen for fertilizer but could export to Germany if supply was plentiful.
