Africa–Canada relations
Encyclopedia
Canada – Africa relations are relations between Canada
and the peoples and countries of the African continent.
. However slavery in Canada
was not a major part of the economy or social system, either under French
(1534–1763) or British rule. A few Christian missionaries from Canada may have visited Africa. Canada and Africa were both part of a global trading system, linked by European trading companies
such as the Hudson's Bay Company
and the Royal African Company
. However as both Canada and African were raw-material exporting areas, they mostly traded with manufacturers in Europe, and not with each other.
Canadians first became involved with African politics because of British imperial wars there. A group of 386 Canadian voyageurs
participated in the 1884-1885 Nile Expedition
during the Mahdist War
in Sudan
. A larger Canadian contingent took part in the Second Boer War
(1899–1902), helping to keep South Africa within the British Empire.
. Canada's official multiculturalism
(after 1971) and growing African-Canadian community have helped relations. Canada uses both the English-style common law system and French-style civil code system that are used in much of Africa. "Canada is the only G7 country that never possessed any overseas colonies: Canadians do not carry any “imperial baggage” in Africa." Canada shares some geographic similarities to many African countries in that the latter are large, sparsely-populated areas with few major cities and face major challenges with the delivery of government services, much like Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. Both Canada and most African countries rely on natural resource development and international trade
for economic growth. Canada is also a member of both the Commonwealth and La francophonie
, which together include most countries in Africa.
During the 1990s, Canadian involvement in African dropped as the result of government cutbacks to the aid and foreign affairs budgets. This was reversed during the short government of Paul Martin, whose government announced several new commitments to Africa. However, relations have deteriorated under the government of Stephen Harper, which is cited as one of the reasons Canada failed to win a seat on the UN Security Council in 2010.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the peoples and countries of the African continent.
Early years
Africa and Canada had few contacts before the twentieth century. A small number of Africans were taken as slaves to Canada during the Atlantic slave tradeAtlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade, also known as the trans-atlantic slave trade, refers to the trade in slaves that took place across the Atlantic ocean from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth centuries...
. However slavery in Canada
Slavery in Canada
Slavery in what now comprises Canada existed into the 1830s, when slavery was officially abolished. Some slaves were of African descent, while others were aboriginal . Slavery which was practiced within Canada's current geography, was practiced primarily by Aboriginal groups...
was not a major part of the economy or social system, either under French
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
(1534–1763) or British rule. A few Christian missionaries from Canada may have visited Africa. Canada and Africa were both part of a global trading system, linked by European trading companies
Trading company
Trading companies are businesses working with different kinds of products which are sold for consumer, business or government purposes. Trading companies buy a specialized range of products, maintain a stock or a shop, and deliver products to customers....
such as the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
and the Royal African Company
Royal African Company
The Royal African Company was a slaving company set up by the Stuart family and London merchants once the former retook the English throne in the English Restoration of 1660...
. However as both Canada and African were raw-material exporting areas, they mostly traded with manufacturers in Europe, and not with each other.
Canadians first became involved with African politics because of British imperial wars there. A group of 386 Canadian voyageurs
Voyageurs
The Voyageurs were the persons who engaged in the transportation of furs by canoe during the fur trade era. Voyageur is a French word which literally translates to "traveler"...
participated in the 1884-1885 Nile Expedition
Nile Expedition
The Nile Expedition, sometimes called the Gordon Relief Expedition , was a British mission to relieve Major-General Charles George Gordon at Khartoum, Sudan. Gordon had been sent to the Sudan to help Egyptians evacuate from Sudan after Britain decided to abandon the country in the face of a...
during the Mahdist War
Mahdist War
The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...
in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. A larger Canadian contingent took part in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
(1899–1902), helping to keep South Africa within the British Empire.
After African independence
Following the era of de-colonization in Africa, Canada was one of the few major industrialized Western countries that had good initial relations with most independent countries. This was because of several important Canadian characteristics shared with African countries, according to a 2004 briefing note by the Canadian Council for Africa. Canada's two official languages, English and French are two of the most widely spoken in AfricaLanguages of Africa
There are over 2100 and by some counts over 3000 languages spoken natively in Africa in several major language families:*Afro-Asiatic spread throughout the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of the Sahel...
. Canada's official multiculturalism
Multiculturalism in Canada
Multiculturalism in Canada was adopted as the official policy of the Canadian government during the prime ministership of Pierre Elliot Trudeau in the 1970s and 1980s. The Canadian government has often been described as the instigator of multiculturalism as an ideology because of its public...
(after 1971) and growing African-Canadian community have helped relations. Canada uses both the English-style common law system and French-style civil code system that are used in much of Africa. "Canada is the only G7 country that never possessed any overseas colonies: Canadians do not carry any “imperial baggage” in Africa." Canada shares some geographic similarities to many African countries in that the latter are large, sparsely-populated areas with few major cities and face major challenges with the delivery of government services, much like Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. Both Canada and most African countries rely on natural resource development and international trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
for economic growth. Canada is also a member of both the Commonwealth and La francophonie
La Francophonie
Francophonie is an international organization of politics and governments with French as the mother or customary language, where a significant proportion of people are francophones , or where there is a notable affiliation with the French language or culture.Formally known as the Organisation...
, which together include most countries in Africa.
During the 1990s, Canadian involvement in African dropped as the result of government cutbacks to the aid and foreign affairs budgets. This was reversed during the short government of Paul Martin, whose government announced several new commitments to Africa. However, relations have deteriorated under the government of Stephen Harper, which is cited as one of the reasons Canada failed to win a seat on the UN Security Council in 2010.