Washington, 20 July 2022 (TDI): The US-Africa Leaders Summit, which will bring together fifty African leaders in a high-level conference in Washington, is set to take place in mid-December, as per an announcement made by President Biden.
The summit will discuss a range of important issues, from food security to climate change.
This December, @POTUS will host leaders from across the African continent in Washington, D.C. for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit — which will demonstrate the importance of U.S.-Africa relations and cooperation on shared global priorities. https://t.co/7fII2MuJuk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 20, 2022
US-Africa Leaders Summit 2022
The summit is set to take place from 13 to 15 December 2022. The announcement came simultaneously in virtual remarks by Vice President Kamala Harris to the ongoing US-Africa Business Summit in Marrakesh, Morocco. This Summit will last from the 19th to the 22nd of July.
Biden said the summit would work towards new economic engagement and promote democracy and human rights. It will also advance peace and security and address challenges such as food security, climate change, and the pandemic.
The president added that US collaboration with leaders from African governments, civil society, the private sector, and the African diaspora would help tackle some of the challenges.
Addressing Africa’s problems
Biden has yet to visit Africa since becoming president. The summit will come at the end of a year when Biden has engaged with other regions. It will be his most comprehensive look at the complexities of the African continent.
So far, Biden’s diplomatic efforts have focused on promoting Western democracies as a counterweight to China. However, the official affirmed that the US-Africa summit would not all be about Beijing.
The US Agency for International Development has also recently announced providing nearly $1.3bn in aid to the Horn of Africa. This is to help stave off mass starvation and deaths in the region.
