U.S. President Joe Biden stands in the center front row in a group photo during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, December 15, 2022. (Ben Solomon/U.S. Department of State)
By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES
WASHINGTON – Nearly fifty African heads of state gathered last week in Washington for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. President Biden invited the leaders to the U.S. in an attempt to gain influence on the African continent amid strong competition from Russia and China. It was the first U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit since the inaugural summit was hosted in 2014 by former President Barack Obama. The U.S. announced it will pledge $55 billion to Africa over the next three years that includes funds for economic, health and security support. Speaking a day before the Summit kicked off, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the U.S. aims to help African countries achieve their own goals.
“Africa’s success is the world’s success.”
–U.S. President Joseph Biden
President of the United States T.H. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. speaks during the US Africa Business Forum at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 (Paul Kim/U.S. Department of State)
“At the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, held from December 13-15, 2022 in Washington DC, President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to deepen and expand our partnership with African countries to better meet the shared challenges and opportunities of our era. The Summit reaffirmed our resolve to work collaboratively with African governments, businesses, and publics to strengthen people-to-people ties, ensure more inclusive and responsive global institutions, build a strong and sustainable global economy, foster new technology and innovation, strengthen health systems and prepare for the next pandemic, tackle the food security and climate crises, support democracy and human rights, and advance peace and security,”
-the Biden White House said in a statement.
The leaders of four countries — Burkina Faso, Guinea, Sudan and Mali — were not extended invitations because they had been suspended from the African Union.
The White House said President Biden believes U.S. collaboration with African leaders, as well as civil society, business, diaspora, women, and youth leaders, “is essential to unlocking the potential of this decisive decade.” Delegations from all 49 invited African countries and the African Union, alongside members of civil society and the private sector attended the summit. The President, Vice President, and members of the Cabinet engaged extensively with leaders throughout the Summit. The second day of the Summit focused on increasing two-way trade and investment at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum. CEOs and private sector leadership from over 300 American and African companies convened with the Heads of Delegation to catalyze investment in critical sectors, including health, infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, and digital.
President of Senegal Macky Sall arrives on the flight line of Joint Base Andrews, Md., Dec. 12, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isabelle Churchill)
President of Senegal Macky Sall arrives on the flight line of Joint Base Andrews, Md., Dec. 12, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isabelle Churchill)
Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed arrives on the flight line of Joint Base Andrews, Md., Dec. 11, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew-John Braman)
Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed arrives on the flight line of Joint Base Andrews, Md., Dec. 11, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew-John Braman)
President of Namibia Hage Geingob arrives on the flight line of Joint Base Andrews, Md., Dec. 11, 2022.
President of Namibia Hage Geingob arrives on the flight line of Joint Base Andrews, Md., Dec. 11, 2022.
Dictator President Paul Biya of Cameroon Invited to US-Africa Summit
Paul Biya President of Cameroon during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 (Scott Taetsch/U.S. Department of State)
President Paul Biya of Cameroon, one of the longest serving dictators in the world, was invited the U.S. Summit. The leaders of four countries — Burkina Faso, Guinea, Sudan and Mali — were not extended invitations because they had been suspended from the African Union.
RWANDA President Said DR CONGO Bloodshed Not His Problem -Blames Congo
President of Rwanda Paul Kagame delivers remarks during the Space Forum at the US – Africa Leaders Summit on December 13, 2022 in Washington DC. (Scott Taetsch/U.S. Department of State)
Rwandan President Paul Kagame stated during the Summit that the bloodshed in the DR Congo conflict near the border of his country is not his problem. “The problem was not created by Rwanda, and it is not Rwanda’s problem. It is Congo’s problem,” Kagame told an audience off site from the US-Africa Summit in Washington according to AFP. Kagame also took issue with U.S. concerns over his government’s jailing of Hotel Rwanda hero Paul Rusesabagina. Human Rights activists called for President Biden to demand the immediate release of Rusesabagina. In August 2020, Rusesabagina was kidnapped, blindfolded, tied up, and illegally taken across borders to Rwanda, where he has been detained on terrorism charges linked to an organization opposed to Kagame’s rule ever since, critics charge. Kagame said the U.S. can not “bully” him into releasing Rusesbagina whom he considers a terrorist in a statement to media on the sidelines of the US Africa Summit.
U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner at the White House
A general view during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 (Scott Taetsch/U.S. Department of State)
President of the Republic of Cameroon H.E. Paul Biya and First Lady of the Republic of Cameroon Mrs. Chantal Biya arrives during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 (Scott Taetsch/U.S. Department of State)
Ambassador Rufus Gifford meets with President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria H.E. Muhammadu Buhari during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 (Ben Solomon/U.S. Department of State)
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose for photo line photos with delegation heads of the U.S.-Africa Leader Summit, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in the Diplomatic Reception Room with Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed and wife. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose for photo line photos with delegation heads of the U.S.-Africa Leader Summit, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in the Diplomatic Reception Room with Cameroon President Paul Biya and First Lady of the Republic of Cameroon Mrs. Chantal Biya (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose for photo line photos with delegation heads of the U.S.-Africa Leader Summit, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in the Diplomatic Reception Room with Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba and first lady wife. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose for photo line photos with delegation heads of the U.S.-Africa Leader Summit, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in the Diplomatic Reception Room with Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and first lady wife. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
