US President Joe Biden speaks at the US-Africa Summit Leaders Session on partnering on the African Union’s Agenda 2063, in Washington, US, on December 15, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Washington: President Joe Biden announced he plans to travel to Africa as he participated in a summit in Washington with leaders from the continent.
"I’m looking forward to seeing many of you in your home countries,” Biden said on Thursday. He did not provide dates or name the countries he intends to visit.
Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary LLoyd Austin, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Samantha Power, who heads the US Agency for International Development, would be traveling to Africa as well, Biden said.
The announcement is part of Biden’s effort to revitalize the US relationship with Africa, which has floundered over the past half decade as competitors like China have made inroads.
Biden on Thursday pledged to work with Congress to invest $55bn in the continent over the next three years in an effort to boost its economy, security and health systems. The president also hosted a dinner for leaders Wednesday night that featured entertainment from singer Gladys Knight.
Biden on Thursday also called for the African Union to join the Group of 20. He’s also pushing for a permanent seat for Africa on the United Nations Security Council. He plans to attend a session with leaders on food security Thursday afternoon to cap off the summit.
The last US president to travel to sub-Saharan Africa was Barack Obama, who visited Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015. Obama made four separate trips to the continent as president.
