How the Biden administration could build better US-Africa multilateral relations
By Nompumelelo Mtsweni and Susan Russell
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By Nompumelelo Mtsweni and Susan Russell
The inauguration of United States (US) President Joseph R. Biden last year (2020) on the 20th of November has been praised by some Africans and condemned by others.
While the praise is due to the optimistic comments he has made on the promise to build back better US-Africa policy some African observers have expressed reservations based on scepticism on whether Biden will implement friendlier policies towards the continent.
"As far as foreign policy towards Africa is concerned, I do not expect substantive change. Biden will be different than Trump, as Barack Obama was different than George W Bush. He will speak softly and continue the knee-on-the-neck policy to secure zero-sum advantage to a few predatory capitalists that are already well-positioned in countries such as Somalia."
Abukar Arman – Former Somalia special envoy to the US, Somalia
"While I am not sure that [the] US-Africa relationship will change dramatically for the better with Biden, we can do without Trump’s total disrespect and contempt for Africa, Africans and non-white peoples. His absence from the world stage will not be missed."
Chika Okeke-Agulu – Art historian, professor of African and African Diaspora Art at US-based Princeton University, Nigeria
Biden has, however, promised to strengthen US relations with Africa and repair the legacy left by former US president Donald Trump’s tumultuous four-year presidency.
Here, we explore some of the ways the Biden administration could build better US-Africa multilateral relations, focusing on democracy, economic ties, and trade.
With the governance challenges many African nations face, including elites that cling to power, and a lack of transparency around the legitimacy of elections, the Biden administration could, for instance, provide financial and other support to independent electoral commissions that meet international standards.
In addition, the many pressing economic challenges facing Africa,including the looming crisis of excessively high youth unemployment rates and over-reliance on single commodity exports, and corruption, offer American organisations such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) an opportunity to help develop Africa’s emerging markets and switch the rules of engagement from a humanitarian aid-centric to a more economic empowering approach.
Libya : Total USAID assistance (2020 - 2021) $91 million
Chad : Total USAID assistance (2020 - 2021)$155 million
Sudan : Total USAID assistance (2020 - 2021) $674 million
Morocco : Total USAID assistance (2020 - 2021) $67 million
Algeria : Total USAID assistance (2020 - 2021) $28 million
Senegal : Total USAID assistance (2020 - 2021) $217 million
Burkina Faso : Total USAID assistance (2020 - 2021)$101 million
AGOA must work to create trade hubs and facilities to trade African products to the American markets. The Biden administration can assist in improving export opportunities for African goods by supporting manufacturing on the continent and in filling in the gaps in the AGOA framework to improve industrialisation in Africa.
African Union and USAID have highlighted the importance of the African Wealth Opportunities Act to boost trade relations between Africa and the US.
More investment from the US, signalling an era of renewed relations with Africa will be necessary to improve democracy, economy, and trade relations across the continent.
If, as Joe Biden has proclaimed, “America is back” then it should not be business as usual in Africa.
Credits
Images: AFP, GettyImages and Pexels
Data visualisations: Flourish studio
Map: Svelte-mapbox
Data source for the map: USAID all agencies 2020 - 2021
