Hichilema Flies to Washington to Attend US-Africa Leader’s Summit
President Hichilema has flown to Washington D.C., in order to attend the US-Africa Leader’s Summit set to begin tomorrow. The three-day event will see leaders across the continent meet with President Biden and his advisors in order to discuss bilateral relations.
On his departure yesterday the President tweeted his excitement to be participating in the summit.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation explained that “President Hichilema and other Heads of State and Government are expected to deliberate on opportunities for public-private partnerships; bolstering the US-Africa economic relationship; access to capital; food insecurity, and promoting sustainable economic growth and development.”
Zambia already has a strong relationship with the United States. The U.S. Ambassador to Zambia recently praised the “excellent strategies and policies” being implemented by President Hichilema. Further, the U.S. Government run development agency, USAID, recently launched two business and trade development projects, with a combined budget of $54 million USD in order to further improve the business environment and promote opportunities for women and youth.
The Hichilema administration, however, still wishes to use the summit as an opportunity to further develop US-Zambia relations. To that end the president will be appearing at the US-Africa Business Forum, the Civil Society Forum, the Conservation, Climate Adaptation and Just Energy Transition Forum, and the Council on Foreign Relations.
The president has repeatedly emphasised that the first year of his administration was for stabilising the economic chaos left behind by former President Lungu, and that the second year of his administration is set on unlocking the potential of the Zambian economy.
There is much anticipation surrounding the meeting, with commentators speculating that this year’s summit may redefine the USA’s relationship with the African continent. Over 50 heads of state are expected to be present at the summit and it is hoped relations will improve after former president Trump spurned African leaders by failing to host a second summit following Obama’s 2014 effort.
Since June 2019, the US government has helped close more than 800 two-way trade and investment deals across 45 African countries, worth an estimated $50 billion in exports and investments. With many African nations seeking investment as a result of post-pandemic global economic stagnation, and the Biden administration’s increasing use of the language of “collaboration” above the historic power imbalances that have defined rhetoric and reality, there is hope the U.S. will start seeing Africa as an ally and partner.
In July, President Biden said the agenda of this year’s summit will be to “build on our shared values to better foster new economic engagement; reinforce the US-Africa commitment to democracy and human rights; mitigate the impact of covid-19 and of future pandemics; work collaboratively to strengthen regional and global health; promote food security; advance peace and security; respond to the climate crisis; and amplify diaspora ties.” This is a long list but officials are optimistic this year’s summit could bring positive change.