Joe Biden wants to weigh as much as Russia and China on the continent

The three-day summit in Washington will be an opportunity to announce new investments between the United States and African countries. Stakeholders must in particular talk about food security – aggravated by the war in Ukraine -, climate change, but also democracy and governance.

But this summit is perhaps above all the moment to demonstrate that the United States is still interested in Africa. This year, under the Biden era, it stands eight years after the first of its kind. It took place in 2014 under the presidency of Barack Obama.

Biden breaks with Trump’s lack of interest in Africa

Former President Donald Trump made no secret of his lack of interest in the African continent. While Joe Biden, champion of multilateralism, intends to put Africa back at the heart of world diplomacy.

The current US leader supports the idea of ​​a seat for Africa on the UN Security Council and he will call at the summit for the African Union to be formally represented in the G20, said a presidential adviser.

“This decade will be decisive. And the years to come will determine how the world will be reorganized“, affirmed the “Mister Africa” of the National Security Council, Judd Devermont. Close to the American executive, he wishes to underline that the Biden administration “strongly believes that Africa will have a decisive voice“.

Biden’s “Africa strategy” against Russia and China

The summit comes in the wake of a new strategy “Africa“unveiled last summer. This method promoted by Joe Biden notably provides for an overhaul of United States policy in sub-Saharan Africa, to counter the Chinese and Russian presence there. During a tour of Africa this summer, the Secretary of American State Antony Blinken had called for the creation of a “true partnership“with Africa.

These statements come in response to Chinese and Russian investments in the African continent in recent years. China is the world’s largest creditor to poor and developing countries and invests heavily in the African continent, which is rich in natural resources. Similarly, Russia has greatly increased its presence there, including by sending mercenaries, and is cultivating close ties with certain capitals, in particular those which had decided at the beginning of March not to contribute their votes to a United Nations resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine, major point of tension with the United States.

Which African countries are participating in this summit?

– On the occasion of this three-day summit, the United States has invited all member countries of the African Union. Including those who are in “good relations” with the AU. With the exception of Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Sudan. The latter maintains diplomatic relations with Washington, excluding Eritrea.

– The Ethiopian Prime Minister is also expected Abiy Ahmed, a little over a month after the signing of a peace agreement with the Tigrayan rebels, as well as the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the midst of conflict in the east of the country in the face of the M23 rebellion.

– But also the Egyptian presidents Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Tunisian Kais Saiedstruggling with strong protest, as well as the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogodays after the United States called his re-election a “drill“.

– The only notable absentee, the South African president Cyril Ramaphosawho is struggling in his country amid corruption charges.

“The expectation is very high”

“It is clear that we are criticized by those who wonder why we invited this or that government with which we have concerns“, admits Molly Phee, of the State Department. “But it reflects the desire of President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken to have respectful discussions, including with those with whom we have differences.“, she adds.

The senior diplomat said in particular that she expected a “robust discussion” on the programming law on the “growth in Africa” voted in 2000 and linking the lifting of customs tariffs to democratic progress. This law expires in 2025.

But the expectation being very high, the question will be whether things will really change.
Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Center for Strategic and International Studies à Washington.

For Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, who directs the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the summit “presents real opportunities but also certain risks“. “This is an opportunity to show Africa that the United States is really listening“, he observes.”But the expectation being very strong, the question will be to know if things will really change“.