Malaysia’s Africa Strategy: A Quiet, Persistent, and Win-Win Partnership

 In the 21st-century global competition, Africa—with its natural resources, dynamic youth population, and geopolitical weight—is at the strategic center not only for traditional powers but also for a growing number of regional actors. One country quietly opening the continent's door is the Asian tiger, Malaysia.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s tour of Ethiopia, South Africa, and Kenya, which began on November 20th, signaled Malaysia’s desire to become more visible on the continent. The timing was also notable: Anwar Ibrahim attended the G20 Leaders' Summit in South Africa as an "invited guest," reaffirming his country’s versatile and flexible diplomacy on the global stage.

Looking at the overall picture of these engagements, Malaysia positions itself apart from the often contentious competitive models of the West or China. It projects a partnership profile that is more equitable, cooperation-based, and prioritizes mutual benefit.

Historical Foundations of Malaysia-Africa Relations

The roots of Malaysia-Africa relations date back to the 17th century when the Dutch East India Company brought thousands of Muslims from present-day Malaysia and Indonesia to South Africa to meet colonial labor needs, forming the "Cape Malay" community.

The foundation for modern relations extends to the 1955 Bandung Conference, where anti-colonial solidarity took shape within a global framework. After Malaysia (then the Federation of Malaya) gained independence in 1957, its Africa strategy developed mainly along the lines of political support and taking common stances in international forums.

Malaysia's Africa outreach gained momentum under Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who led the country for 22 years. By placing "South-South Cooperation" at the center of foreign policy, Mahathir positioned Africa as a new strategic arena that would both reduce dependence on the West and expand Malaysia's economic and political influence.

In the 2000s, relations with the continent took on a distinct economic dimension. Major Malaysian companies like PETRONAS and Sime Darby made significant investments across Africa. This process was institutionalized when Prime Minister Najib Razak officially announced the "Africa Outreach" in 2013.

Indeed, by 2011, Malaysia had become one of the few Asian countries to emerge as a visible economic actor on the continent, with notable investment volumes comparable to China and India.

Malaysia's Areas of Activity in Africa

The energy sector leads Malaysia's activities on the continent. PETRONAS began its first major operations in Sudan, though these were suspended due to conflicts. Today, it conducts oil and gas exploration, extraction, and processing projects in Egypt, Mozambique, Gabon, and Senegal.

Sime Darby’s extensive palm oil plantations in Liberia, Nigeria, and Ghana are significant investments where Malaysia exports its agricultural expertise and strengthens its position in the global palm oil supply chain. Malaysia and Indonesia now account for about 85% of global palm oil production. However, rising production costs, land use limitations, and labor costs have directed both countries toward Africa, where both production and consumption are growing.

However, the use of child labor on plantations and deforestation are focal points of criticism. The low share of income received by local communities is also a frequently cited issue.

Malaysian companies are undertaking housing, highway, airport, and hospital projects across the continent. The Bagamoyo Port Project in Tanzania, although suspended due to political disagreements, is a striking example of Malaysia's appetite for large-scale infrastructure. Yet in this field, China remains a powerful and fast-moving competitor.

Malaysia's role in the continent's digital transformation is also notable. UEM Group focuses on digital infrastructure projects in Rwanda, while Telekom Malaysia continues telecommunications investments in various countries. In finance, Maybank and CIMB stand out with Islamic finance products, particularly in markets with large Muslim populations.

Malaysia hosts thousands of students from countries like Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan. Universities in Malaysia, especially the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), have become a major education hub for Muslim African nations.

By offering training programs for African diplomats, engineers, and technicians, Malaysia aims to bring the young African population closer to "Malaysian technology." The 'Africa-Malaysia Youth Leadership Forum' launched in Addis Ababa during Anwar Ibrahim's tour is a concrete indicator of this goal. With the slogan 'Youth Cooperation for Shared Prosperity,' the forum directly targets Africa's youth, aiming to build an emotional and intellectual bond with Malaysia. This move signals that Malaysia's partnership claim extends not only to today's commercial activities but also to tomorrow's social and political relations.

Thanks to its Muslim identity, Malaysia gains easier access to many markets that are closed or sensitive to investors from China, India, and Western countries.

A Quiet and Steady Partnership**

Malaysia's partnership with Africa shows a quiet but steady deepening. The absence of a military presence and less coverage in international media reinforces this 'silent partner' profile. While, like other regional powers, it seeks access to Africa's rapidly growing market, it does so without entering the high geopolitical competition zones of the West and China, taking lower-risk and more sustainable steps. The country's Africa strategy is expanding beyond traditional energy and agricultural investments toward future-critical industries. Indeed, the inclusion of semiconductors in the cooperation framework signed with South Africa at last month's ASEAN summit is the clearest indicator of this transformation. Both sides, having experienced vulnerabilities in global supply chains, aim to enhance their mutual economic resilience through this move. Malaysia is exploring the potential to combine its semiconductor manufacturing expertise with South Africa's rare earth elements and metal resources to create an alternative production line, reducing dependence on China and the West.

As a country importing 60% of its food needs, Malaysia needs Africa's agricultural capacity. A crucial "win-win" bridge comes into play here: Malaysia's world-renowned halal certification system (JAKIM) serves as a key to opening Africa's halal food and logistics market to the world. Malaysia's potential to build a "halal ecosystem" in Africa—encompassing halal logistics, pharmaceuticals, and tourism—is extremely strong. This ecosystem represents a vast development area appealing to Africa's youth, spanning from food to medicine, cosmetics, finance, and travel.

Through education, technical cooperation, and development experience, it transforms an "Islamic democracy and development model" into soft power.

Staying away from debt-trap models, avoiding imposing political agendas, and preferring to work with local institutions make Malaysia a more reliable partner for many African countries weary of great power competition. Considering the cultural bridge formed by the long-established Malay population in South Africa, African leaders see Malaysia as a reliable partner bringing advanced technology and investment.

In this aspect, Malaysia shares similarities with powers like Turkey, which center soft power and balanced politics, sending the message that Africa's options are broader than assumed. Indeed, Malaysia could strengthen its quiet but steady African outreach through potential cooperation with a rising country like Turkey, which is also trying to carve out a place on the continent. It could be considered a strategic opportunity that increases both economic and diplomatic options.

However, there are structural challenges ahead for this deepening partnership.

Potential and Challenges**

Another factor strengthening Malaysia's Africa outreach is its chairmanship of ASEAN this year. Kuala Lumpur wants to use this advantage to revitalize the Africa Union–ASEAN dialogue and seek support for Malaysia's position in international organizations. Yet, structural obstacles lie ahead: recent trade agreements with the US could complicate Kuala Lumpur's flexible movement in Africa. Malaysia's long-criticized slow visa and work permit processes are another problem hindering investment flow from Africa to the country. Furthermore, it remains uncertain whether the current momentum can be sustained after Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysia's presence in Africa does not offer a completely problem-free framework. Issues such as environmental damage in energy and palm oil projects, the limited role of local communities in income sharing, and weak technology transfer can sometimes overshadow the "win-win" narrative. An economic partnership based solely on raw material extraction also risks contradicting long-term sustainable development goals. Malaysia's own domestic political balances and economic priorities are among the factors that could influence the direction of its relations with Africa. All these variables will determine whether Malaysia's presence on the continent evolves from a well-intentioned outreach into a truly equitable and lasting partnership.

 

*The original of this article was published on Wajtürk.