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While addressing nearly 50 African leaders on Thursday (yesterday) in Washington at the US-Africa Summit, US president Joe Biden said that the United States would not shy away from promoting democracy in the continent. He also disclosed his proposed visit to Africa, the first by a US President since 2015 to sub-Saharan Africa. However, he did not specify the dates and destinations of his travel
While addressing nearly 50 African leaders on Thursday (yesterday) in Washington at the US-Africa Summit, US president Joe Biden said that the United States would not shy away from promoting democracy in the continent. He also disclosed his proposed visit to Africa, the first by a US President since 2015 to sub-Saharan Africa. However, he did not specify the dates and destinations of his travel.
The new initiatives spelled out by Joe Biden, following the footsteps of Barack Obama are clearly a departure from the policies pursued by his predecessor Donald Trump, whose focus on Africa was widely perceived as lackadaisical. Biden’s strategic drive towards Africa is driven also by the increasing dominance of China and Russia in the continent in the economic and political spheres, which the US and the western countries are trying to counter.
It is significant to note that Biden, in September this year, called for an African permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He also backed a permanent African Union role in the Group of 20 economies, which analysts say, signified the new initiatives of the US to build bridges with Africa amidst the increasing presence of China and Russia in the continent. Importantly, the US is unveiling a plan to invest US$ 55 billion in Africa over the next three years, including investment in green energy, training health workers, and modernization of internet networks. Of that, the US private sector’s investment will be US$15 billion, particularly in digital technology.
Biden laid stress on building democratic institutions in the continent. “Support for democracy, respect for the rule of law, commitment to human rights, a responsible government, all are part of our DNA,” Biden said in his speech at the African summit. He also announced US$100 million for ensuring security in the electoral systems. Of that, US$75 million will be towards counteracting “democratic backsliding” including strengthening electoral authorities and civil society. The US has come heavily on the electoral lapses in a few countries, which held elections recently, particularly against the suppression of dissent opinions.
In another significant move to strengthen democratic institutions, Biden met leaders of six nations that would hold elections next year including Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, sub-Saharan Africa’s largest countries in population and size to seek promises of free elections. The Summit is also discussing food security in the continent, where some of the steps to be taken by the US would be spelled out to give assistance to the countries affected by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the consequent price spiral, particularly for the food articles.
Senegalese President Macky Sall, the current chair of the African Union, while welcoming the US support for strengthening democratic institutions called for the United States to end longstanding rights sanctions on Zimbabwe and voiced alarm over a bill in the US Congress that would impose sanctions on African countries over dealings with Russia.
Analysts point out that though Biden has given special treatment to countries, which uphold democracy and follow rule of law, among his invitees include some of the heads of state who are authoritarians.
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To add to the bonhomie between the US and the African nations, Joe Biden watched the football world cup semi-final between Morocco and France along with heads of state of some of the African countries including the Moroccan president.
