The United States has unleashed a charm offensive in Africa under President Biden as it seeks to rival Russia and China.
This weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris begins a three-country tour of Africa as the United States seeks to promote itself as a better partner than China, which has invested heavily in the continent over several decades.
Harris will be in Ghana from March 26-29, and then in Tanzania from March 29-31. Its last stop is Zambia, where it will be from March 31 to April 1. She will meet the heads of state of the three countries and plan to announce public and private investments.
Senior US officials said Harris will discuss China’s participation in technology and economic issues in Africa of concern to the United States, as well as China’s involvement in debt restructuring.
Zambia, the first African country to default on its sovereign debt during the COVID-19 pandemic, is working with its creditors, including China, to reach an agreement.
“We’re not asking our partners in Africa to choose,” an official told the Reuters news agency, describing the competition with China, though he added that the US has “real concerns about some of China’s behavior in Africa” and “vague.” commercial dealings.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Harris will discuss how best the international community can address the debt challenges facing Ghana and Zambia.
The White House hosted the Africa Leaders Summit in December, and President Joe Biden is expected to travel to the continent later this year.
It was US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Ethiopia And Niger In March this year, less than a year after visiting South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MoroccoAlgeria and Rwanda.
a large number of recent links It is a deviation from Washington’s position during the era of Biden’s predecessor, Republican President Donald Trump, who largely ignored the continent, and this comes at a time when Russia is deepening its military clashes across Francophone Africa.
One official said Harris, who visited her maternal grandfather as a young child while he was working there, “is looking forward to returning to Lusaka, which is part of her family’s story and a source of pride.”
On her tour, Harris will also meet young leaders and business representatives and discuss topics such as climate change and food insecurity.