Biden asks to incorporate Africa into the G20 and promises to visit the continent

The president of United States, Joe Bidenon Thursday supported a greater role for Africa in the world, but also vowed that the United States would not be ashamed of promoting democracy.

“The United States is totally committed to Africa,” Biden told nearly 50 African leaders who gathered in Washington for three days.

“Africa must be at the table in every room where global challenges are discussed and in all institutions,” he said.

Biden, who in September called for a permanent seat for Africa on the UN Security Council, backed a permanent representation of the african union in the Group of 20 largest economies and announced that he planned a visit, the first by a US president since 2015, to sub-Saharan countries on the continent.

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We will all be seeing you and you will see many of us,” Biden said at the summit, without specifying a date or destinations.

His trip would mark the first visit by a US president to the region since 2015, since Barack Obama He did it in July of that year to Kenya and Ethiopia.

Biden’s predecessor, the Republican Donald Trumpmade no secret of his lack of interest in sub-Saharan Africa and was the first president in four decades not to visit the region while in office.

On Wednesday, Biden called for forging a grand “alliance” with Africa, whose “success” is key to the world” and detailed a series of investments by his country in the African continent.

Washington plans to disburse 55,000 million dollars in Africa over the next three years in different sectors, such as digital, health and the fight against climate change.

Biden also announced $2.5 billion in food aid at the summit, as prices rise and lead to famine on the African continent.

In parallel, the president applauded the almost 15,000 million dollars in contracts promised on the sidelines of the summit by the American and African private sector in different areas, including high technology.

“Russia’s brutal war has disrupted food and energy supplies, affecting all of our economies,” said US Vice President Kamala Harris.

In addition, he told African leaders that “international rules and norms are under threat, for example, sovereignty and territorial integrity, unimpeded trade and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.”

democratic DNA

In contrast to China, which has been happy to do business with all African regimes, the United States has taken pains to emphasize democracy, even as Biden invites leaders seen as authoritarian.

“America will always lead with our values,” Biden told the African leaders. “I support democracy, respect for the rule of law, commitment to human rights, responsible government, all of that is part of our DNA.”

Announcing $100 million for security, Biden also said the United States will invest $75 million to counter “democratic rollback,” including by strengthening electoral authorities and civil society.

African leaders highly appreciated the summit. Yet the continent has also been reluctant to take sides among the major world powers.

African Union leader Moussa Faki Mahamat lamented that the Cold War years have seen “waves of national egoism” on the intercontinental scene.

Senegalese President Macky Sall, current head of the African Union, thanked the United States for its support of the institution and expressed his appreciation for Biden’s summit.

But he also called on Washington to end longstanding sanctions against Zimbabwe and expressed alarm over a bill in the US Congress that would impose sanctions on African countries over their dealings with Russia.

“This would be the first time in international relations that an entire continent is being targeted,” Sall told Biden at the summit.