Scholz Kicks off East Africa Visit in Ethiopia

On Thursday, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz departed for his trip to East Africa, heading first to Ethiopia before crossing into neighboring Kenya.

This is his second time in Africa since taking over the top job, and the talks are set to focus on peacekeeping and green energy, as well as the consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Scholz's visit comes amid outbreaks of violence in Sudan and just six months after the end of a two-year civil war with Ethiopia's northern Tigray region - the African country with the second-largest population after Nigeria.

Scholz will travel to Kenya, Germany's largest trading partner in the region, on Friday. Kenya has played a mediating role in regional disputes and also hosts one of the largest green energy projects in Africa.

The chancellor also aims to put pressure on Germany's role as a reliable partner as a counterweight to China's growing influence in the region.

He may also try to drum up more support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

However, as German lawmaker Michael Roth told the RND media group, the East Africa trip aims to give a "clear signal, that Germany and Europe are not only occupied with the Russian invasion of Ukraine but that we are also taking action for peace and stability worldwide."

Kenya is home to the Lake Naivasha geothermal plant, which is the largest on the continent.