On July 11, Tony Elumelu asked for a new US engagement with Africa — questioning “where is America in all of this?” in an op-ed in The Hill.
He doesn’t have to wonder any longer. On July 20, President Joe Biden announced that he will be hosting leaders from across the African continent in Washington, DC on December 13-15, 2022.
The US-Africa Leaders Summit, Biden said in a statement issued on Wednesday, “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”.
Elumelu, entrepreneur, chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and proponent of Africapitalism, had reflected on “America’s absence on the continent” and called for a “catalyst for a sustained, substantive relationship between Africa and the US”.
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“When I visited Washington this spring to explore partnership opportunities with the U.S. government, I wondered what kind of reception to expect. Although President Biden pledged early in his term to reengage with the continent, major policy initiatives remain unclear, and America’s absence on the continent has been felt,” he wrote in the article published on July 11, 2022.
“This contrasts with U.S. allies and adversaries alike, who continue to show real commitment in their relationships. In February, at the sixth European Union-African Union Summit, leaders of the 27 EU nations welcomed 40 African heads of state to Brussels and committed €150 billion in investments targeting health, education, digital innovation, transportation infrastructure, and green energy.
“At the concurrent EU-Africa Business Forum (EABF), the Tony Elumelu Foundation celebrated its €20 million partnership with the European Commission which has empowered 2,500 young women entrepreneurs across Africa. Last November, China hosted its eighth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Senegal, and later this year Japan will convene its eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Tunisia.
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“So, I wanted to know: Where is America in all of this?”
In his statement, Biden said the US-Africa Leaders Summit will reinforce America’s commitment to Africa.
“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.”
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There are reports that 50 African leaders will attend the summit.
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