economic powers compete for proximity to the mainland

With our special correspondent in Gaborone, Claire Bargeles

This Gaborone Summit comes just before the Russia-Africa forum in Saint Petersburg at the end of the month, and the Johannesburg Brics rally in August, where all the African leaders were invited. The continent is therefore courted, and The US does not want to be on the sidelineswho want to catch up on trade with him, trade three times lower in 2021 than those Beijing maintains.

Because everyone has in mind the market that Africa will represent in 2050: the continent will gather a quarter of the world’s population, with half of the inhabitants under 25 years of age.

However, there are still blockages on the part of the US private sector, especially in terms of risk perception. THAT AGOA programdue to expire in 2025, has also yielded mixed results benefiting a handful of countries and sectors as the continent dreams of technology transfers to develop value-added products.

President Joe Biden is also expected to visit African countries soon, likely this year, a sign of renewed interest from the White House as the last presidential visit to Africa dates back to the Barack Obama era.

” Demonstrate willingness to advance the renewed partnership with the continent »

The message from the Americans is therefore clear: the country wants to do business and has in recent months made efforts to intensify the relationship. During the Gaborone summit, the heads of state of Botswana, Mozambique, Niger and Zimbabwe made the trip together with senior representatives of US agencies and the private sector to unlock new projects.

For Judd Devermont, special assistant to the president and senior director for Africa at the White House National Security Council, the progress since the US-Africa summit in December represented a turning point in US policy. Gaborone is the opportunity to demonstrate our desire to promote this renewed partnership with the continent “.

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