US President Joe Biden called for a new and deeper partnership between the two sides at a US-Africa summit. “If Africa succeeds, the US will succeed. Then the whole world will succeed,” said Biden yesterday at the meeting with heads of state and government from 49 African countries in Washington. No international challenge can be mastered without Africa. “I’m not trying to be nice. It’s a fact,” Biden said.
In a clear dissociation from China, the president said the US wanted partnerships with Africa “not to create political commitments and dependencies, but to achieve shared success and shared opportunities.” At the same time, the US President emphasized the importance of good governance: “Africa’s economic transition depends on good governance, healthy populations and reliable and affordable energy.”
The US government has announced that it will invest 55 billion dollars (around 52 billion euros) in Africa over three years. The money is to be used, among other things, for health care, measures to combat climate change, infrastructure and technological development.
