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President Joe Biden will meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa this month. This is billed as an exercise by the White House to draw African nations closer to the U.S. South Africa and many other African countries did not vote in support of the UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine
President Joe Biden will meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa this month. This is billed as an exercise by the White House to draw African nations closer to the U.S. South Africa and many other African countries did not vote in support of the UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. South Africa has abstained from voting and kept away from any criticism of Russia and instead called for a mediated peace. This disappointed the US, which thought that African countries are their natural allies.
Importantly, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Africa last month. The meeting is said to have bought African countries closer to the western forces. Blinken is reported to have discussed various strategic issues with Ramaphosa.
Biden and Ramaphosa are expected to focus their talks on trade and investment, infrastructure, climate and energy, public health, and South Africa´s leading role in the continent’s development agenda. The White House press secretary said that the two heads of state will reaffirm the importance of the enduring partnership, and discuss regional and global challenges. A US-Africa partnership summit is also in the pipeline.
South Africa´s neutral position is large because of the support the Soviet Union gave during the Cold War era to Ramaphosa´s African National Congress in its fight to end apartheid. The Biden meeting will come at a critical time for Ramaphosa, who is facing criticism from opposition parties and from within his own party for a scandal that erupted regarding the robbery of US $4 million from his farm. His wavering account of the robbery and why it was not reported to the police, as a mandatory process when a theft happens, had raised many eyebrows.
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Ramaphosa faces significant opposition in his efforts to get re-elected as the leader of his party at a conference to be held in December, a crucial factor for his re-election as president in 2024. The poor state of the South African economy, which had to face the double whammy of recession and negative Covid impact are other factors Ramaphosa should address in the coming days to ensure his next term.
