The economy, science and security at the heart of Ignazio Cassis' visit to four African countries
Bern, 19.03.2026 — Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will visit Angola, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso from 23 to 27 March 2026. In Angola, Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, the focus will be on trade, economic relations and scientific cooperation, while the trip to Burkina Faso will centre on international cooperation, humanitarian aid and the security situation in the Sahel region.
Mr Cassis' trip to Africa takes place within the framework of the Federal Council's Africa Strategy 2025–28 and its priorities of peace and security, prosperity and competitiveness, and democracy and governance. Switzerland is seeking to strengthen its partnerships with African nations as the continent's political and economic weight continues to grow. In travelling to these four countries, Mr Cassis is underscoring Africa's importance for Switzerland.
Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Angola: economic heavyweights in Africa
The first stop on Mr Cassis' trip to Africa is Angola, one of the continent's largest economies. Switzerland wishes to strengthen its economic and trade relations with the country, where Swiss companies see considerable potential in infrastructure and logistics and in the energy and agricultural sectors. Mr Cassis will therefore also visit a Swiss technology company in Angola in addition to his meeting with the foreign minister.
On Tuesday 24 March, Mr Cassis will travel on to Nigeria, Africa's largest country in terms of population. In the capital, Abuja, he will meet the vice president and the national security adviser. In addition to economic and trade relations, the talks will focus on Switzerland's provision of good offices during the ongoing internal armed conflict in the country's north-east, where Switzerland has been mediating between the conflicting parties for some time. Mr Cassis' visit to Lagos, the country's financial hub, will include a meeting with students from a vocational training project co-financed by Switzerland.
The third stop on Mr Cassis' visit to Africa is Côte d'Ivoire, the second-largest economy in West Africa. In addition to meetings with the Ivorian authorities, the focus will be on celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Centre Suisse de Recherche Scientifiques, which was founded by Swiss researchers in 1951. The institute, which is co-financed by Switzerland, now plays a central role in scientific research and knowledge exchange in West Africa. In Abidjan, Mr Cassis will also attend an event marking the official reopening of the bilateral chamber of commerce.
Burkina Faso: a priority country for Swiss development cooperation
On Friday 27 March, Mr Cassis will visit Burkina Faso, the fourth and final stop on his trip, and a priority country of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). His meeting with the foreign minister will focus on development cooperation, the humanitarian situation in the country and the complex security situation in the region. Mr Cassis is also scheduled to visit a project co-financed by the SDC that gives disadvantaged population groups access to financial services.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Angola
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Nigeria
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Côte d'Ivoire
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Burkina Faso