It comes amid fierce competition for influence and opportunity in Africa, where China has long dominated foreign investment.
President Joe Biden also stated that the United States is “all in on Africa’s future,” adding that “when Africa succeeds, the United States succeeds.”
President Joe Biden stated at the ongoing US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington that his country is “all in on Africa’s future.”
The US president made the comments on Wednesday while addressing a conference of 49 African leaders, saying, “When Africa succeeds, the United States succeeds. To be honest, the entire world succeeds.”
In addition to his remarks, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the US hopes to assist African countries in achieving their own objectives.
The White House, according to Sullivan, has pledged $55 billion in economic, health, and security assistance to Africa over the next three years.
On Monday, December 12, 2022, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington.
Sullivan declined to provide details, saying the White House would reveal them during the next three days of bilateral and multilateral talks, as well as a dinner hosted by Biden for his African counterparts at the White House.
According to the German news website DW, the announcement includes a $100 million aid package for clean energy and an additional $800 million in public and private financing for digital development.
Meanwhile, Visa announced a $1 billion investment in Africa to develop digital payments, and Cisco and its partner Cybastion announced ten cybersecurity contracts totaling $858 million.
Microsoft also stated that it would launch satellites to provide internet access to millions of people, beginning in Egypt, Senegal, and Angola, according to DW.
While commenting on China and Russia’s competition for influence and opportunity in Africa, Sullivan insisted that the summit was not about other countries.
“It’s not going to be attempting to compare and contrast,” he said.
“This is going to be about what we can offer. It’s going to be a positive proposition about the United States and its partnership with Africa.
“We are bringing the resources to the table in significant numbers,” he added, according to RFI.
Sullivan also stated that the US would inform the visiting leaders that it supports adding an African country to the UN Security Council’s permanent membership and inviting the African Union to join the elite G-20 countries.
