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]

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

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

Day 1

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

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

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

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

^ Shava received the invitation to the summit instead of Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the latter was under U.S. sanctions.^[8]

African Union – Chairperson of the African Union Commission – Moussa Faki Mahamat

Excluded countries

Burkina Faso – membership in African Union suspended^[9]
Eritrea – limited diplomatic relations with United States^[5]
Guinea – membership in African Union suspended^[10]
Mali – membership in African Union suspended^[11]
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – not recognized by the United States and has no diplomatic relations^[5]^[12]
Sudan – membership in African Union suspended^[13]

References

^ 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.
^ 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.
^ a b c d "Africa: Heads of Delegation for U.S–Africa Leaders Summit – White House". AllAfrica. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
^ a b "Statement by President Biden on the U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit". The White House. July 20, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ a b c d e "U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Schedule". United States Department of State. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
^ Pecquet, Julian (September 19, 2022). "US-Africa summit invites Zimbabwe in from the cold". Archived from the original on November 29, 2022.
^ "AU suspends Burkina Faso after coup as envoys head for talks". Al Jazeera. January 31, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
^ "African Union suspends Guinea after coup, as envoys arrive for talks". France 24. September 10, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
^ "African Union announces 'immediate suspension' of Mali after second coup". France 24. June 2, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
^ "Morocco", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, March 22, 2023, retrieved March 24, 2023
^ "African Union suspends Sudan over coup". Al Jazeera. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.