US President Joe Biden has announced billions of dollars in aid and investment for Africa at a summit with the continent’s heads of state.
“America is ready for Africa’s future,” President Biden told 49 African leaders attending the Washington, D.C., summit.
This is the first meeting held by Washington in eight years.
The summit is being seen as a US attempt to reassert its influence in Africa to counter Chinese interference.
It also comes after Donald Trump’s four-year term in office, during which he alienated several African leaders with policy decisions and insulting comments.
Mr. Biden struck a starkly different tone from his predecessor, speaking optimistically about better ties with Africa and telling the gathering that “when Africa succeeds, America succeeds. Frankly, so does the world.” It succeeds.”
He said the crises facing the world today needed African leadership, ideas and innovation, and he promised “significant” investment in Africa by the previous US administration.
To that end, ahead of the three-day summit that ends Thursday, national security adviser Jack Sullivan said the US would pledge $55 billion ($44 billion) to Africa over the next three years.
In his address on Wednesday, the US president touted a $500 million investment to reduce transport costs at the West African port in Benin.
He also mentioned the $350 million that will be spent on developing the digital economy and said that $15bn worth of deals were made at the US-Africa Business Forum.
The US is also poised to sign a memorandum with the African Continental Free Trade Area – one of the world’s largest free trade areas – which Mr Biden said would allow US-Africa “trade and New investment opportunities” will open up.
On the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday, Mr Biden met separately with the leaders of six African countries holding elections in 2023 to press for a free vote.
Before the end of the summit on Thursday, the US president is also expected to support the entry of the African Union as a permanent member of the Group of 20 major economies. They are also likely to announce a tour of the continent in the New Year.
