A number of African leaders will be guests of the American government in mid-December 2022 when President Joe Biden hosts the first in-person summit with his peers.
The United States has been under increasing pressure to assert its influence on the continent amid a growing role economic giant and rival China is exerting in the area of infrastructure development and loans.
A July 20 statement from the White House noted that the agenda for the meeting will include among others, building “on our shared values to better foster new economic engagement; reinforce the U.S.-Africa commitment to democracy and human rights.”
Other areas of consideration will be too, “mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and of future pandemics; work collaboratively to strengthen regional and global health; promote food security; advance peace and security; respond to the climate crisis, and amplify diaspora ties.”
President Biden last year joined the African Union summit of Heads of State via virtual means at the height of COVID-19.
Statement by President Biden on the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit
I look forward to hosting leaders from across the African continent in Washington, DC on December 13-15, 2022, for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
The Summit will demonstrate the United States enduring commitment to Africa and will underscore the importance of U.S.-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities.
The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit will build on our shared values to better foster new economic engagement; reinforce the U.S.-Africa commitment to democracy and human rights; mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and of future pandemics; work collaboratively to strengthen regional and global health; promote food security; advance peace and security; respond to the climate crisis, and amplify diaspora ties.
I look forward to working with African governments, civil society, diaspora communities across the United States, and the private sector to continue strengthening our shared vision for the future of U.S.-Africa relations.
