US announces $165m funding to support African elections in 2023

The United States says it plans to provide over $165 million to support elections and governance in Africa in 2023.

According to a statement by the White House, US President Joe Biden said this on Wednesday during a meeting with leaders from six African countries where elections are billed to hold in 2023.

The leaders are Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); Ali Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon; George Manneh Weah, president of Liberia; Andry Nirina Rajoelina, president of Madagascar; Muhammadu Buhari, president of Nigeria; and Julius Maada Bio, president of Sierra Leone.

The meeting was held during the three-day US-Africa summit which brought together delegations from nearly 50 countries as well as the African Union.

The White House said the African leaders, along with Biden, discussed the challenges of holding elections and shared best practices for how to ensure transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

“Participants reaffirmed their commitment to hold free, fair, and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent, and impartial national electoral bodies, as enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance,” the statement reads.

“President Biden reflected on the recent midterm elections, noting that the strength and resilience of American democracy was reaffirmed in the process, and he reinforced the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to working collectively to renew and defend democracy at home and abroad.  Although elections themselves do not equal democracy, President Biden underscored that holding elections is fundamental to a functioning democracy.

“The elections in Africa in 2023 will be consequential.  While the United States does not support any specific candidate or party, the United States is committed to supporting electoral processes to deepen democracy in Africa.

“Working with Congress, the United States plans to provide over $165 million to support elections and good governance in Africa in 2023.  The United States has provided nearly $50 million in support of civil society and the electoral commissions in Nigeria and the DRC.”