United States–Africa Leaders Summit 2022

The United States–Africa Leaders Summit 2022 was an international conference held in Washington, D.C., from December 13–15, 2022.[2][3] The summit was hosted by United States President Joe Biden, and attended by leaders from 49 African states, as well as the head of the African Union Commission.[3]

US–Africa Leaders Summit 2022
Host countryUnited States
DateDecember 13–15, 2022
Venue(s)Salamander Washington DC Hotel
White House
Harry S Truman Building
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
National Museum of African American History and Culture[1]
CitiesWashington, D.C.
ParticipantsJoe Biden
49 African leaders
U.S. Business Executives
FollowsUnited States–Africa Leaders Summit 2014
WebsiteOfficial website
Biden delivers remarks

The event's overall goal was to rebuild and strengthen relations between the United States and African countries.[4][5] Specifically, the summit focused on issues relating to health, climate change, food security, conflicts, and cooperation in space.[6]

Background

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The first United States–Africa Leaders Summit was held in 2014 by United States President Barack Obama.[2] In July 2022, Biden announced that he would hold a second summit.[4] Under the administration of his predecessor, Donald Trump, foreign policy emphasis was shifted away from Africa.[6] In addition, the influence of other powers, such as China, grew significantly on the continent during the years preceding the second summit.[2][5][6]

Schedule

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Day 1

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Vice President Harris at the African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum

Sub-forums on the summit topics were held on the first day.[7]

  • African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum
  • Civil Society Forum
  • African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade Ministerial
  • U.S. Africa Space Forum
  • Peace, Security, and Governance Forum
  • Partnering for Sustainable Health Cooperation
  • Conservation, Climate Adaptation, and a Just Energy Transition

Day 2

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The foreign ministers dinner

The U.S.-Africa Business Forum was held on the second day, consisting of four sessions.[7]

  • Charting the Course: The Future of U.S.-Africa Trade & Investment Relations
  • Building a Sustainable Future: Partnerships to Finance African Infrastructure and the Energy Transition
  • Growing Agribusiness: Partnerships to Strengthen Food Security and Value Chain
  • Advancing Digital Connectivity: Partnerships to Enable Inclusive Growth Through Technology

After the forum, President Joe Biden delivered a keynote address, and joined leaders at a state dinner.[7]

Day 3

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The working lunch at the Leaders Summit
 
Blinken with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
 
President Joe Biden with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame
 
President Biden with African leaders
 
Biden and Blinken at the Leaders Summit

The leaders sessions and a working lunch were held on the final day.[7]

  • Leaders Session – Partnering on Agenda 2063
    • Discussion Session 1: "An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law"
    • Discussion Session 2: "A peaceful and secure Africa"
    • Discussion Session 3: "A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development"
  • Leaders Working Lunch – Multilateral Partnerships with Africa to Meet Global Challenges
  • Leaders Session – Promoting Food Security and Food Systems Resilience

A "family photo" was taken between the working lunch and the final session.[7]

Participants

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At the time of the summit, there were 54 fully recognized states in Africa. All 54 were members of the African Union, though membership had been suspended for 4 of these, due to recent coups in those countries. Invitations were extended to 49 of the remaining 50 that were "in good standing" with the African Union.[5]

The African Union was also invited.[3] All invitations were accepted.[3] All but 4 of the invited countries sent heads of state or heads of government. Biden met with the leaders as a group, and did not sit down with any of them individually.

Dignitaries

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Country Title Leader
  Algeria Prime Minister Aïmene Benabderrahmane
  Angola President João Lourenço
  Benin President Patrice Talon
  Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi
  Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye
  Cape Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva
  Cameroon President Paul Biya
  Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra
  Chad President Mahamat Déby
  Comoros President Azali Assoumani
  Congo–Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso
  Côte D'Ivoire Prime Minister Patrick Achi
  Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
  DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi
  Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
  Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
  Eswatini Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini
  Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
  Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba
  Gambia Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamadou Tangara
  Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo
  Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló
  Kenya President William Ruto
  Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane
  Liberia President George Weah
  Libya President of the Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi
  Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina
  Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera
  Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
  Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth
  Morocco Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch
  Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi
  Namibia President Hage Geingob
  Niger President Mohamed Bazoum
  Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari
  Rwanda President Paul Kagame
  São Tomé and Príncipe Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada
  Senegal President Macky Sall
  Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan
  Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio
  Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
  South Africa Minister for International Relations Naledi Pandor
  South Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mayiik Ayii Deng
  Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan
  Togo President Faure Gnassingbe
  Tunisia President Kais Saied
  Uganda President Yoweri Museveni
  Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema
  Zimbabwe Minister of Foreign Affairs Frederick Shava[a]
  1. ^ Shava received the invitation to the summit instead of Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the latter was under U.S. sanctions.[8]

Excluded countries

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References

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  1. ^ Harris, Kamala. "Remarks by Vice President Harris at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum". The White House. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Walsh, Declan (December 12, 2022). "Biden Is Bringing Africa's Leaders to Washington, Hoping to Impress". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Africa: Heads of Delegation for U.S–Africa Leaders Summit – White House". AllAfrica. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Statement by President Biden on the U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit". The White House. July 20, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Background Press Call on the U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit". The White House. December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Fabricius, Peter (December 9, 2022). "Will next week's US–Africa summit revive relations?". Institute for Security Studies. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e "U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Schedule". United States Department of State. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  8. ^ Pecquet, Julian (September 19, 2022). "US-Africa summit invites Zimbabwe in from the cold". Archived from the original on November 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "AU suspends Burkina Faso after coup as envoys head for talks". Al Jazeera. January 31, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "African Union suspends Guinea after coup, as envoys arrive for talks". France 24. September 10, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  11. ^ "African Union announces 'immediate suspension' of Mali after second coup". France 24. June 2, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  12. ^ "Morocco", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, March 22, 2023, retrieved March 24, 2023
  13. ^ "African Union suspends Sudan over coup". Al Jazeera. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
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