Latvia and Africa: An Untrodden Road
By Kaspars Germanis - Latvia has recently shown interest in strengthening relations with African countries.
Relations between Latvia and African countries have generally been rather distant. They are far apart in geographic terms. There is no sizeable community of Africans in Latvia or Latvian communities in Africa. Economic and political cooperation has been sporadic and mutual perceptions have often been limited to basic facts and stereotypes.
Yet Latvia has recently shown interest in strengthening relations with African countries. In June, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a forum, “Latvia and African Countries: Partners for Peace and Resilience.” In tandem, the Center for Geopolitical Studies Riga presented one of the first reports on existing relationships. While not an academic study, the report, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a serious effort to explain Latvia's foreign policy concerning African countries, current political and economic relations, and the potential future of these relations.
The report — Latvia and African Countries: At the Beginning of a New Road — shows many signs of rapprochement and good reasons as to why further progress should be possible. But the question remains: Will anybody walk on this road?
Why Only Now?
If Latvia regained its independence more than 30 years ago, then why only now have African countries come under the scope of its interests? After regaining independence in the early 1990s, Latvia was busy consolidating its statehood. The government focused on removing the Russian military, transforming the economy, and (re)incorporation in the Western world to which Latvia felt it belonged, including joining international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, and NATO. Later, Riga’s diplomatic focus was on Latvia's regional neighbors, like Ukraine and Georgia, and their efforts to follow in the Baltic states' footsteps to strengthen their independence.
Now, in today's increasingly globalized world, attention must be directed to the African continent where the current political, economic, and environmental processes — e.g. climate change, challenges to democracy, and migration —cannot be ignored. Africa is a huge continent with myriad cultures, traditions, and countries that play increasingly important and divergent roles in the world. As one expert interviewed for the report noted, Latvia has come to the realization that it is imperative to better understand African perspectives on global issues.
Indeed, rapid strengthening of relations between Latvia and African countries offers significant economic opportunities. There are some business ties that are already laying this groundwork. For example, Latvian IT companies are already operating in Kenya and other African countries (MikroTik, a network equipment manufacturing company, alone has distributors in 25 African countries), universities have looked for cooperation partners in Ghana, Latvian beans are exported to Egypt, and in 2023, Nigeria was Latvia's second largest export partner outside of Europe. Latvian businesses must act quickly in developing relationships across the continent, said Igors Boiko, the public representative of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency in Africa: In a few years, it will be more difficult to enter the growing African market, which is becoming increasingly attractive to other countries.
Another growing reason to strengthen engagement now is Russia’s war in Ukraine and Latvia’s concurrent campaign to be elected to the UN Security Council for 2026 and 2027. Russia has been growing its influence across Africa, increasing its presence through a mix of military, diplomatic, and economic means. Further, the legacy of the USSR in the memory of the population of some African countries — wherein the Soviet Union presented itself as a champion of African liberation movements and an anti-colonial power — as well as colonial resentment against the West, has made it difficult both to gain support for Ukraine and to highlight Russia's own colonial past and current expansionism. Yet with 54 UN member states, finding support among Africa's countries is necessary. Latvia is keen to help Ukraine by defending its position and gaining sympathies in the upcoming vote on Latvia’s candidacy for the UN Security Council.
What Could Bring Latvia and African Countries Closer Together?
Building relations between Latvia and African countries might begin with an understanding of a shared history of occupation. Latvia and most African countries know too well what it means to live under the power of others. Despite cultural differences, shared empathy and historical experience could lay a foundation for growing closer. However, here is a paradox — knowledge about the other is often rooted in the ideas established by colonizers and occupiers. For example, Latvia and the Baltic states are often still associated with the narratives of the USSR or Russia in Africa, while Latvians often perceive African countries according to ideas established by Western colonists. Several experts interviewed in the study, such as Liene Pērkone-Kalniņa, who lives in Ethiopia, note that because Ethiopians, for example, once had the opportunity to study in the USSR, the Soviet Union and Russia are often associated with life opportunities. Given Russia's influence in some African countries, the Russian perspective of history about the Soviet period is dominant. Indeed, greater efforts to shift the narrative should focus on both the Russian Empire and the USSR as explicitly colonial powers: While not expanding their colonization efforts to Africa, Russia has colonized their neighbors for centuries. Finding common cultural and historical ground could help reframe these perceptions, and there are plenty of opportunities — for example, as Kristine Milere, the curator of the Latvian National Museum of Art, notes, Latvians often present themselves as a nation that sings, but do Latvians know the singing and storytelling traditions of African nations?
Another potential space for collaboration is development cooperation. During the more than 30 years that have elapsed since the restoration of its independence, Latvia has gradually evolved from a recipient of foreign aid to a donor country. African countries appeared on Latvia’s development assistance radar only recently, but now this vector deserves more prominence and greater resources. Developing work in this field is a humanitarian imperative, but it is also precisely in this sphere that Latvia and African countries collaborate in business on equal terms. Latvia will not be able to invest as much money in Africa as China, Western Europe, or Scandinavia, but Latvia can be strong in small niches. Existing cooperation shows potential for increased success in fields such as IT, advanced technology, grain export, and forestry. Latvia and African countries — on an equal basis — can also cooperate in the implementation of various development projects.
To yield a higher impact, Latvia should narrow its engagement with Africa to specific regions, countries, and policies. Current vectors and experiences of economic cooperation show that Kenya, Rwanda, Morocco, Egypt, and Nigeria could be suitable countries for further focus, but Latvia should also explore ways of cooperating with or avoiding overlap with the efforts of the other two Baltic countries. Estonia, having previously worked in the UN Security Council, has already begun to grow its development cooperation program with African countries. In addition, Estonia has not only a resident ambassador in Egypt, but also honorary consuls in Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda. Lithuania has a resident ambassador not only in Egypt, but also in South Africa, as well as honorary consuls in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda.
Latvia has only one embassy in Africa — in Egypt — but should consider expanding its footprint on the ground. Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa would be strong candidates for a diplomatic foothold, given their political and economic clout and their geographical placement. At the same time, Latvia can also expand its network of honorary consuls (currently, in Ghana, Tunisia, and Morocco) and resume participation in military missions and operations in Africa. Latvia should also encourage countries in Africa to open embassies in Riga. A further emphasis must be placed on people-to-people relations — for example, cultural, educational, and sports initiatives. Higher education is a field in which Latvia and African countries could develop very close ties. Africans studying in Latvia appreciate the reasonable tuition fees, as well as the quality of education, fast internet, membership in NATO, and the English language skills of Latvian residents. However, it is very difficult to get to Latvia — prospective students have to travel to the sole embassy in Egypt and wait for weeks for a visa, which may not even be granted.
Who Will Travel This Road?
Latvia and African countries have taken the first steps to grow closer across several spheres. But the potential in politics, economy, education, and business is even greater. The fact that Latvia and African countries know relatively little about each other is both a disadvantage and an advantage. Being relatively free of old resentments or conflicts can help to open doors. Greater government support for existing business ventures could also forge a stronger path. There are many opportunities for Latvia to develop closer relations across the continent, but the question of long-term determination remains — particularly in a time of growing geopolitical challenges.
Kaspars Germanis is a researcher at the Center for Geopolitical Studies in Riga.