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BIDEN INVITES 50 AFRICAN LEADERS TO DISCUSS OUTER SPACE, TRADE & SECURITY

BIDEN INVITES 50 AFRICAN LEADERS TO DISCUSS OUTER SPACE, TRADE & SECURITY
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Renson Mwakandana

On Tuesday, close to 50 African leaders gathered in Washington to begin three days of discussions on topics important to the future of the continent and the entire globe, such as health, food security, climate change, civil conflicts, and even space exploration.

The first U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit since 2014 is taking place this week, at a time when the whole globe is dealing with serious challenges, some of which are having devastating repercussions on Africa. The food crisis on the continent is being made worse by both the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on the supply chain.

However, according to U.S. officials, they also want to talk about issues that might help the continent in the long run, such technology and business investments.

At the summit’s opening event, a gathering of what the State Department referred to as “African and diaspora young leaders,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said, “We will be announcing additional investments to make it easier for students to participate in exchange programs between our countries, to increase trade opportunities for members of the African diaspora, and to support African entrepreneurs and small businesses.”

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken /Department of State/

According to Mr. Blinken, each of these investments is driven by one overriding goal: to continue strengthening our cooperation so that we can better handle the difficulties we both confront.

Meetings on the first day focused on important issues such the environment, public health, democratic government, and security. Mr. Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, and Samantha Power, head of the US Agency for International Development, convened the governance and security discussion.

A ministerial meeting on trade was presided over by U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai.

Mr. Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, and Samantha Power, head of the US Agency for International Development conducting discussions /The Guardian/

The first lady, Jill Biden, and the president Joe Biden are scheduled to welcome the delegation leaders for dinner on Wednesday night. President Biden is expected to deliver remarks on Wednesday and Thursday.

President Joe Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden /Tatler/

President Donald J. Trump mostly disregarded African countries in 2018, and at a meeting at the White House, he notably disparaged some of them. The Biden administration is now working to mend fences with African countries.

American authorities are worried about instability brought on by famine, climate change, plagues, and conflicts, as well as Chinese and Russian influence on the continent. American leaders claim that they also seek to assist African nations in providing expanding youth populations with economic prospects. 

The Artemis Accords, an agreement that seeks to create standards for space exploration, was also signed by Nigeria and Rwanda on Tuesday during a symposium on space exploration, making them the first African countries to do so.

Nigerian officials signing The Artemis Accords /BellaNaija/
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