Can US charm offensive woo continent from China? Published 17 hours ago

The US secretary of state was the first to travel to Africa, followed by the vice president and the president himself later in the year.

This flurry of visits by high-ranking US officials reflects a growing awareness that the US must broaden its commitment to the mainland.

All of this takes place despite the growing rivalry between other global powers, particularly China and Russia.

On Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris began her nine-country road trip in Ghana, where she was greeted by musicians and artists at the Kotoko Global Air terminal. She will then travel to Zambia and Tanzania.

Ms. Harris has the best platform because of Ghana’s emphasis on strengthening ties with the African diaspora and its history of peaceful vote-based violence.

Her trip is expected to “expand on” the US-Africa summit in Washington in December, where President Joe Biden said the US was “in with no reservations on Africa’s future,” according to a source.

In any case, that future has attracted a lot of other powerful nations vying for influence, helped along by a young and growing population and the mainland’s vast natural resources.

The VP’s trip will take her to countries dealing with serious monetary issues, while the Secretary of State’s recent trips to Ethiopia and Niger focused on these countries’ security issues.
In the midst of flooding that has increased by more than half, the nation is attempting to rebuild its obligations. Recently, Finance Pastor Ken Ofori-Atta conducted negotiations with the Chinese government in Beijing.

The money official tweeted, “Until this point, exceptionally certain and empowering gatherings in China,” promising in good faith that it would receive external endorsements “very soon.”

In order to receive financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it requires confirmations.

It is unclear what assistance Ms. Harris may provide, but it will be under pressure to continue acting as a willing partner immediately following Mr. Ofori-Atta’s visit to China.

“US a partner – like China and Russia” Godfred Alufar Bokpin, a professor of finance at the College of Ghana, does not anticipate that the visit will result in “a prompt profit” in easing the country’s financial difficulties.

He noted that Ms. Harris’ visit was “vital” for Ghana because it “hoists our relationship with the US to another level,” and that “having China on board is convoluted.”

He told the BBC that the US is showing “great” interest in the country and its debt crisis, but he is worried about what he called “ominous terms of exchange” with lenders.
Ghana’s situation is comparable to Zambia’s.

When the Coronavirus pandemic struck, the copper-rich nation became the first African nation to default on its obligations.

It has also sought financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is engaged in prolonged discussions with China to rebuild its debt.

A senior US official, according to Reuters, said that Ms. Harris “would examine the most effective ways for the global local area to address obligation challenges looked by Ghana and Zambia,” according to the report.

Dr. Sishuwa, a researcher from Zambia, shares Prof. Bokpin’s belief that China has a greater impact on rebuilding responsibility. However, the United States of America needs to be seen as the stronger partner.

On the mainland, there is a growing consensus that Africa should be free to choose how it interacts with the rest of the world.

Dr. Sishuwa stated to the BBC, “Zambia sees the US as it sees China and Russia – a companion.”

When a nation seeks assistance from China, Russia, or the United States, it should not be interpreted as criticizing one major power coalition over the other.

He said that trying to find selective relationships with countries in Africa might be pointless and counterproductive.

This is a repeat of what South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said when he visited Washington last year: No one who partners with us should inform us of this.

The BBC was informed by senior US officials that it is not their intention to inform African nations of potential partners.

However, the United States has been quick to emphasize its focus on the majority rule in its relationships with African nations, and the VP is also expected to discuss this during her visit.

President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia is a result of co-have a virtual Climax for A greater part runs framework, close by four distinct heads of state including President Biden, by and by preceding getting Ms Harris in the country.

It is one of the characteristics, close by fundamental freedoms and incredible organization, that the US government says upholds its relationship with the central area – and isolates it from China and Russia.

Suspicion in Africa China has a non-impedance strategy when it comes to inner political issues, which has made its commitment to dictatorial pioneers more palatable.
As a result of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Western nations probably now have a stronger incentive to keep fighting against additional African nations. Considering Tanzania, which is also on Ms. Harris’ agenda, the UN votes to denounce it as partitioning African countries that represented portion.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, her nation’s most illustrious female head of state, will be met by the US vice president, the first woman to stand firm on that issue.

In Tanzania, this common experience of leading women is getting a lot of attention.

In addition, a lot of people are promoting the trip as proof of the country’s progress and growing recognition on the global map.

It wasn’t so much that Tanzania was an outsider for a while under John Magufuli’s administration because Magufuli was viewed as having imperial tendencies, which limited resistance activities and free media.

Ms. Harris is the fifth high-ranking US official from the Biden organization to visit Africa since December, when US-Africa relations reached their highest point.

Depository Secretary Janet Yellen, US UN representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield, First Woman Jill Biden, and Mr. Blinken are among others.

However, the landmass’s desire for decent treatment comes with the reestablished interest.

Prof. Bokpin of Ghana stated that there was some concern regarding the increased interest in Africa.

“There’s a conviction that another Scramble for Africa is in play,” he said, referring to the region of the landmass controlled by European nations in the late nineteenth century, which sparked a long period of imperialism and double-dealing.

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