Ben Solomon / U.S. Department of State
The United States-Africa Leaders Summit 2022
​At a time when international cooperation is more necessary than ever, are all parties equally important in the negotiations? ​
What key role does the African continent play in global governance? ​
Back to this summit which made Africa a major player on the various levels of globalization?
Written by Lucas Décorne,
Reviewed by Arthur Puybertier,
Translated by Lucas Décorne.
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Published on January, 14th, 2023.
The United States-Africa Leaders Summit 2022
Africa is now considered a key geopolitical player in the world, not only should it shape the future of the African people, but also that of the world. President Biden invited leaders from across the African continent to Washington, D.C., on December 13-15, 2022, for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
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Biden’s 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit
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While Barack Obama was the first American president to host such an event in August 2014, President Biden restarted endeavors for U.S.-Africa cooperation that the Trump administration decided not to follow up. Delegations from all 49 invited African countries and the African Union, alongside members of civil society and the private sector, attended the summit to discuss U.S. collaboration with Africa.
During the summit, the American administration had the opportunity to give speeches on promoting international rules and norms to advance prosperity and security for all and strengthening U.S.-Africa cooperation in multilateral institutions. Accordingly, the Biden administration announced its full support for the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20 and the U.N. Security Council.
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A rich summit conducive to exchanges
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During the three-day summit, leaders and heads of state were granted the opportunity to discuss plenty of different topics. Discussions on the first day focused on the vital role of civil society and the strength of African diaspora communities in the United States.
On the second day, discussions focused on increasing bilateral trade and investment at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum. CEOs and private sector leaders from over 300 U.S.-African companies gathered to catalyze investment in critical sectors. Later in the day, President Biden met with a few African leaders about the upcoming 2023 presidential elections. The third and final day was devoted to high-level discussions among the leaders.
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New initiatives following the discussions
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The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit highlighted the U.S. commitment to expanding and deepening its long-term partnership with African countries, institutions, and people. The U.S. plans to commit $55 billion to Africa to advance shared priorities and to support Agenda 2063. The U.S. government has announced several new economic, humanitarian, and other initiatives. However, the Biden administration needs to secure authorization from Congress to provide much of the $55 billion pledged at the summit.
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The United States lags far behind other countries in its cooperation with Africa, as this was only the second U.S.-African Leaders Summit. In comparison, China has held eight Forums on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The first U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit officially took place to strengthen and broaden America’s ties to Africa. However, this summit was also considered a way to counter China’s increasing importance and expanding trade relations with Africa.
Therefore, the effectiveness and the benefits of the summit for the African people were called into question; besides, it gave a pass to corrupt leaders to be invited to the summit, even though only African leaders “in good standing with both the U.S. and the African Union” were supposed to be invited.
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Lucas Décorne