LUS Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Ghana on Sunday (March 26), the first leg of her three-nation tour of Africa aimed at strengthening Washington’s diplomatic ties with the continent. This visit echoes that of former President Barack Obama to the same country a little less than fifteen years ago. However, the geopolitical climate is very different, with the war in Ukraine, and especially the growing influence of China and Russia. While the arrival of a black president in the White House in 2008 had raised immense hopes, many African leaders regularly express their frustration with the American policy towards Africa, which is still too perceived as a continent of problems rather than a land of opportunities.
Africa has become a geopolitical issue
The stakes are high to make up for the delay taken by Washington, accentuated by the Trump years. Now, the Biden administration must step up its efforts, because the battle is being played out on the diplomatic field. And to meet these challenges, Kamara Harris must provide proof of the sincerity of the United States, in particular through the fulfillment of the many promises not kept so far, and clearly avoid several pitfalls, including that of presenting the African States as pawns in the geopolitical strategy of the United States. “What an honor to be here in Ghana, and on the African continent. I am very excited about the future of Africa. I am very excited about the impact of Africa’s future on the rest of the world. When I look at what’s happening on this continent and the fact that the average age is 19, what does that tell us about the growth of innovation and opportunity. I see in all of this a great opportunity, not only for Africans, but also for the rest of the world, “said the American vice-president when she got off the plane.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has undoubtedly given the United States an added sense of urgency to win over more African countries. UN votes to condemn the Russian war in Ukraine have divided African countries.
In any case, after other trips to Africa by members of President Joe Biden’s government as well as his wife Jill Biden, Kamala Harris’ visit is also meant to be symbolic, she is the first black person and the first woman to become a vice -President of the United States. She had traveled to Zambia as a child, when her maternal grandmother, originally from India, worked there. This trip will also allow him to strengthen his qualifications in foreign policy, ahead of a potential second candidacy of Mr. Biden in the presidential election of 2024, with Ms. Harris at his side.
Changing America’s perception of Africa
On the US agenda, Kamala Harris’ tour of Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia, scheduled until April 2, comes after a US-Africa summit in December in Washington, during which President Joe Biden pleaded to create a broad partnership with Africa, at a time when the United States seeks to promote the positive vision carried by Washington, which sees in this continent the “future of the world”. She is expected to address during her visit the climate crisis, improving food security and increasing investment in the continent, she said.
Joe Biden’s government is aware of the “strategic importance” of African countries on global issues such as climate change, the resilience of supply chains, as well as as “actors” within the UN . Youth is one of the main themes of Mrs. Harris’ trip, while the average age is only 19 years on this continent with rapid population growth, and where it is estimated that one in four earthlings will live 2050.
The American vice-president should meet entrepreneurs, students, women and peasants. She must also visit a former hub of the slave trade, the fort of Cape Coast (south). She will also meet with President Nana Akufo-Addo and meet representatives of civil society. She is due to leave Ghana on Wednesday for Tanzania.