- By Anne Soya
- Senior Africa Correspondent
38 minutes ago
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US Vice President Kamala Harris hosted sessions at the US-Africa Summit in Washington in December
First it was the US Secretary of State who went to Africa, now it’s the Vice President and later in the year the President himself is due to come.
This spate of visits from senior US government officials reflects a growing awareness that the US needs to deepen its commitment to the continent.
All of this is happening in the face of growing competition from other global powers, notably China and Russia.
Vice President Kamala Harris begins her nine-day trip in Ghana before continuing to Tanzania and Zambia.
Ghana, with its focus on strengthening ties with the African diaspora and a record of several peaceful democratic transfers of power, provides an ideal home base for Ms. Harris.
Their trip is set to “build up,” according to an official statement at December’s US-Africa summit in Washington, where President Joe Biden said the US is “everything in Africa’s future.”
But it is this future, fueled by a young and growing population and the continent’s immense natural resources, that has attracted many other powerful nations vying for influence.
While Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s recent visit to Ethiopia and Niger focused on the security challenges facing those countries, the Vice President’s trip will take them to countries facing serious economic problems.
The country is attempting to restructure its debt amid soaring inflation in excess of 50%. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was in Beijing conducting negotiations with the Chinese government.
“Very positive and encouraging meetings in China so far,” the finance minister tweeted, expressing optimism that there would be external assurances “very soon.”
It takes the assurances to unlock financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
It is not clear what help Ms Harris can offer but she will be under pressure to act like a willing partner following Mr Ofori-Atta’s China visit.
“USA a friend – like China and Russia”
Economist and professor of finance at the University of Ghana Godfred Alufar Bokpin does not believe the visit will yield “an immediate dividend” to ease the country’s financial woes.
“Having China on board is complicated,” he said, while noting that Ms. Harris’ visit was “a very important one” for Ghana as it “takes our relationship with the US to another level.”
He told the BBC US interest in the country and its debt crisis is “good” but concerned about what he described as “unfavorable trading conditions” with creditor nations.
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First Lady Jill Biden, seen here in Namibia in February, was another US dignitary to recently visit the continent
Zambia is in a similar situation to Ghana.
The copper-rich nation became the first African country to default on its debt when the Covid pandemic hit.
It is in lengthy talks with China over restructuring its debt and has also asked the IMF for financial support.
Portal quoted a senior US official as saying Ms Harris would “discuss the best ways for the international community to address Ghana’s and Zambia’s debt problems.”
Like Prof. Bokpin, Zambian analyst Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa that China has more leverage when it comes to debt restructuring. But the US wants to be seen as a more reliable partner.
There is a growing sense on the continent that Africa should have free choice in its relations with the rest of the world.
“Zambia sees the United States in the same way as China and Russia – a friend,” said Dr. BBC’s Sishuwa.
“When a country turns to China, Russia or the US for support, it should not be seen as a snub to one major power bloc or another.”
He said attempts to seek exclusive ties with African countries could be counterproductive and unsustainable.
This echoed comments made by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a visit to Washington last year when he said: “No one should tell us who we are associated with.”
Senior US officials have told the BBC they have no intention of telling African countries who they might be friends with.
However, the US has been keen to emphasize its focus on democracy in its relations with African countries, something the vice president is expected to discuss during her visit.
President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, along with four other heads of state, including President Biden, will host a virtual pro-democracy summit shortly before welcoming Ms Harris to the country.
Along with human rights and good governance, it’s one of the values the US government says underpins its relationship with the continent — and sets it apart from China and Russia.
skepticism in Africa
China has a policy of non-interference in countries’ internal political affairs — something that has smoothed its collaboration with autocratic leaders.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has undoubtedly given Western nations an added sense of urgency to win over more African countries. The UN is voting to condemn the divided African nations, which accounted for half of all abstentions, including Tanzania, which is also on Ms Harris’ itinerary.
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Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan first met Vice President Harris in Washington almost a year ago
The US vice president – the first woman to hold the position – will meet President Samia Suluhu Hassan, her country’s first female head of state.
This shared experience of being pioneers is causing a stir in Tanzania.
Many also hailed the visit as a confirmation of the progress the country is making and its growing visibility on the world map.
Not long ago, under the presidency of John Magufuli, Tanzania was something of an outcast, seen as autocratic and restricting the activities of the opposition and independent media.
Ms. Harris is the senior US official in the Biden administration to visit Africa and the fifth since the US-Africa summit in December.
Others included Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, First Lady Jill Biden and Mr Blinken.
But with the renewed interest comes a demand from the continent to be treated fairly.
Ghana’s Prof Bokpin said there was a degree of skepticism about the increased interest in Africa.
“There is a belief that a new struggle for Africa is underway,” referring to the continent’s subdivision by European nations in the late 19th century, which led to decades of colonialism and exploitation.
“This commitment must emphasize mutual respect,” he added.