Sultan Barakat Visits Berlin as Keynote speaker on the Evolving Middle East–Africa Partnerships

Dr. Sultan Barakat, Professor at the College of Public Policy, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg’s Qatar–South Africa Center for Peace Studies, undertook a strategic outreach visit to Berlin from November 3 to 5, 2025, as part of the research initiative West Asian and Sub-Saharan African Partnerships in Flux (WASSAP). The initiative is organized in partnership with CARPO and supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, with the visit aimed at advancing dialogue on how shifting relations between the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa are influencing European and German engagement.

During the trip, Dr. Barakat held consultations with senior German policymakers and analysts, including meetings at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Federal Foreign Office, and Ministry of Economy and Energy. Discussions focused on the growing diplomatic, economic, and security ties between Gulf states and African governments, and their implications for Europe’s strategic policy approach amid evolving global power dynamics.

A key highlight of the visit was the expert roundtable hosted at the Robert Bosch Stiftung, where Dr. Barakat served as a keynote contributor. The session explored how Gulf engagement is reshaping African agency, regional diplomacy, and the broader shift toward multipolarity. Participants discussed opportunities for constructive trilateral cooperation involving Germany, the Gulf, and African states.