The federal strategy for Africa

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On 13 January 2021 the Federal Council approved its first strategy for sub-Saharan Africa, covering the period 2021–2024. It placed at the heart of Swiss action peace, security and human rights, migration, prosperity, sustainability and digitalisation, with distinct priorities for the Sahel, the Greater Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes, the economically powerful countries and the regional organisations.¹ This strategy emphasised the continent’s economic potential, its youth, its entrepreneurial dynamism and its lead in financial technologies, Africa accounting for 50 per cent of all mobile-money accounts in the world. It also noted that its wealth in raw materials carried risks linked to external shocks, indebtedness and corruption, and that it contributed little to the prosperity of the population.²

The strategy mentioned International Geneva as one of Switzerland’s assets in its relations with the continent. It recalled Switzerland’s commitment to the restitution of assets of illicit origin and to greater transparency in multilateral fora.³ On 20 December 2024 the Federal Council adopted a new strategy for Africa, covering for the first time all regions of the continent, for the period 2025–2028, with peace and security, prosperity and competitiveness, the environment, democracy and governance as its priorities. Switzerland has eighteen embassies and ten cooperation offices on the continent, the Rwanda office having been raised to the rank of embassy in spring 2025.⁴

These strategies give the relationship between Switzerland and Africa a political framework it previously lacked. They recognise the diversity of the continent, articulate Switzerland’s economic, humanitarian and security interests and involve International Geneva and the financial centre in their implementation. For Geneva players, they offer a foothold for developing relationships that go beyond trading and wealth management.

Notes

Federal Council, Stratégie pour l’Afrique subsaharienne 2021-2024 (Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy 2021–2024), 13 January 2021, eda.admin.ch. ↩
Federal Council, Stratégie pour l’Afrique subsaharienne 2021-2024, cited above. ↩
Federal Council, Stratégie pour l’Afrique subsaharienne 2021-2024, cited above. ↩
Federal Council, press release of 20 December 2024, “Le Conseil fédéral adopte sa nouvelle stratégie pour l’Afrique 2025-2028” (The Federal Council adopts its new Africa Strategy 2025–2028), admin.ch. ↩

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

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The federal strategy for Africa

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