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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

Singapore's diplomatic relationships and recent highlights with Sub-Saharan Africa.

Overview

Singapore enjoys strong and growing relations with many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. These ties are sustained through regular bilateral visits, meetings at international fora and high-level political exchanges such as the biennial Singapore–Africa Ministerial Exchange Visit (SAMEV), previously known as the Singapore-Sub-Saharan Africa High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit (AHLMEV), organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). In August 2025, Singapore hosted the fifth SAMEV concurrently with the eighth Africa–Singapore Business Forum (ASBF), which is the premier platform for business exchange and fostering trade between Africa and Asia, organised by Enterprise Singapore.

Economic relations between Singapore and African countries continue to deepen. To facilitate expanding business interests, Enterprise Singapore’s Overseas Centres in Johannesburg, Accra, and Nairobi actively support Singapore companies and foster partnerships with African counterparts. Since 2023, Singapore-Africa trade and investment has grown steadily, including in new areas such as cooperation in carbon credits. Singapore also participated as a guest country at the 2025 G20 Summit at the invitation of South Africa, President of G20 from December 2024 to November 2025.

Capacity-building and knowledge sharing remain central pillars of engagement. Through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), Singapore regularly shares its developmental experience with African countries. Over 13,000 African officials have benefited from SCP training and study visits, spanning public governance, urban planning, water management, and port operations.

Recent highlights

2025

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong’s Official Visit to Ethiopia

  • Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong made an Official Visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November. This was Prime Minister Wong’s first visit to Ethiopia and bilateral visit to Africa. Prime Minister Wong announced Singapore’s decision to establish an embassy in Addis Ababa and launched the “Singapore-Africa Partnership Leading to Growth and Sustainability (SAPLINGS)” technical assistance package. Prime Minister Wong and Ethiopia Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali also witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding on skills development and carbon credits collaboration. More details on the visit can be found here.

Ghana President John Mahama’s State Visit to Singapore

  • Ghana President John Mahama made a State Visit to Singapore in August. The visit reaffirmed the warm friendship between Singapore and Ghana and the significant potential to deepen cooperation. More details on the visit can be found here.

5th Singapore–Africa Ministerial Exchange Visit (SAMEV)

  • Singapore hosted 14 Ministers and Deputy Ministers from Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe for the 5th SAMEV in August. Themed “Progressing Together towards a Sustainable Future”, the programme, which coincided with the 8th Africa-Singapore Business Forum (ASBF), strengthened links and encouraged the exchange of development experiences between Singapore and Africa. Over 700 delegates from 35 countries, including 16 African countries, attended the ASBF. More details on the visit can be found here.

2024

Then-Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Education and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman’s Working Visit to Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria

  • Then-Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Education and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman made a Working Visit to Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria in November. The visit reaffirmed the warm ties between Singapore and both countries and strengthened business ties with West Africa’s largest economies. More details on the visit can be found here.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame’s Working Visit to Singapore

  • Rwanda President Paul Kagame made a Working Visit to Singapore in September. The visit strengthened bilateral cooperation between Singapore and Rwanda and saw the exchange of the Protocol amending the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income. More details on the visit can be found here.

Ethiopia Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali’s Official Visit to Singapore

  • Ethiopia Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali made an Official Visit to Singapore in June. The visit marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. A Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of Bilateral Consultations and a Statement of Intent were signed during the visit. More details on the visit can be found here.

2023

Then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Official Visit to South Africa and Kenya

  • Then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made an Official Visit to Cape Town, South Africa, and Nairobi, Kenya in May.  The visit reaffirmed Singapore’s broad-based bilateral partnership with both countries. Two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed on bilateral cooperation in the areas of ICT and Skills Development in South Africa and three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on Carbon Credits, ICT, and Skills Development were signed in Kenya. More details on the visit can be found here.

4th Singapore–Sub-Saharan Africa High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit (AHLMEV)

  • Singapore hosted eight Ministers and Deputy Ministers from Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Uganda for the 4th AHLMEV in August. Themed “Partners in Digitalisation and Sustainability,” the programme, which coincided with the 7th Africa Singapore Business Forum, facilitated dialogue on development priorities and business opportunities. More details on the visit can be found here.

2022

Then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Official Visit to Rwanda

  • Then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made an Official Visit to Kigali, Rwanda in June after attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by Rwanda. This was then-Prime Minister Lee’s first bilateral visit to Africa. The visit deepened cooperation in digitalisation, urban solutions, and governance. Then-Prime Minister Lee also launched the Singapore – Africa Partnership Package (SAPP) under the Singapore Cooperation Programme. More details on the visit can be found here.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame’s Working Visit to Singapore

  • Rwanda President Paul Kagame made a Working Visit to Singapore in September. The visit reaffirmed the warm relations between Singapore and Rwanda. Both sides explored further cooperation in education and capacity building. More details on the visit can be found here.

2019

  • Special Envoys appointed by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari and Muhammadu Indimi made a working visit to Singapore in February.

  • Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited Kenya to attend the inaugural Afro-Asia FinTech Festival in July.

  • Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta made a working visit to Singapore in September to speak at the Singapore Summit.

  • Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam made an official visit to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and Accra, Ghana in November.

2018

  • Mauritian Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon made a study visit to Singapore in January on Singapore’s public administration and governance systems.

  • Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Energy for Petroleum Dr Mohammed Amin Adam made a study visit to Singapore in January on Singapore’s energy sector.

  • Ghanaian Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Ken Ofori-Atta, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Charles Adu Boahen, Deputy Minister of Energy for Petroleum Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, and Deputy Minister of Information Kojo Nkrumah made a study visit to Singapore in February on Singapore’s banking and financial sectors.

  • Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Aurelien Agbenonci made a working visit to Singapore in February.

  • Mauritian Minister Mentor, Minister of Defence and Minister for Rodrigues Sir Anerood Jugnauth made a study visit to Singapore in April on Singapore’s crime prevention and anti-terrorism efforts.

  • Angolan Minister of Transport Dr Augusto da Silva Tomas made a working visit to Singapore in April.

  • Angolan Minister of External Relations Manuel Domingos Augusto made a study visit to Singapore in May on Singapore’s economic institutions.

  • Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam made an official visit to Rwanda and Kenya in June.

  • Ministers and representatives from 12 Sub-Saharan African countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda) visited Singapore in August to attend the Third Singapore-Sub-Saharan Africa High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit (AHLMEV). The theme of the visit was “Singapore and Africa: Partners for Smart Cities”. The Ministers also attended the 5th Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF).

  • Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made a working visit to Durban, South Africa in November to attend the 18th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

  • Senior Parliament Secretary (Foreign Affairs)(Trade and Industry) Dr Tan Wu Meng made a visit to Ghana and Ethiopia in December.

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