The US-Africa Leaders Summit was an initiative in which President Biden invited leaders from across the African continent to Washington DC on December 13-15, 2022. For the US the Summit aimed to strengthen ties with African partners and collaborate on key areas of mutual interests.
I respect the general purpose of the Summit and applaud the US effort in organizing it. However, I believe the framework of the Summit was severely flawed and even in poor taste, but that the African leaders were willing accomplices in this poor design.
A Summit between 1 country and 1 continent (54 countries) is organized, and it is continent that comes to the country instead of the 1 country coming to the continent! A framework reflects a worldview, and here the worldview reflects the attitude that Western interests is primary in any dynamic. As the all-important center around which all others must gather around and find their place, despite the use of words like “partners”. The optics reflected the notion that the US and the President does not believe making serious efforts to be worthwhile when dealing with Africa, and they will only engage when it is convenient. Thus, going to Africa is not worth the effort unless the whole of Africa comes to the US.
But the African leaders also erred. The framework of their thinking still reflects a valorization of the West and the US, not as partners but as models to emulate and the center around which they should organize themselves. In the attitude of African elites is a subconscious tendency to prioritize and compliantly follow the initiative of theirs without original modification. Thus, when invited abroad, they eagerly fly to DC and take pictures with the giddiness of star-struck tourists.
That is what the framework of the US-Africa Summit communicated to many keen observers who paid attention.
If there was a real leader in Africa, then upon receiving the invitation he would graciously thank the US and take the invitation under advisement. Next, he would consult with other African leaders and kindly respond with a modification: saying that the leaders of Africa propose the Summit be held in Africa, in a country to be chosen by a designated date, and that African leaders will give the US delegation a befitting reception on African soil.
But who in Africa responded this way? Where was the leadership that continentally organized and coordinated other African leaders to ensure that even framework of the US-Africa Summit was respectfully balanced?
For the next US-Africa Summit, I recommend the US President visit Africa and engage with the African officials there. The framework would then show that the US wishes to take the trouble to engage Africa like respectful partners, and is willing to make the effort to forge new deals at the cost of some convenience.
Again, I applaud the aim of the US-Africa Summit, but the framework among other elements was flawed and needs to change to produce a better outcome.
~Dr. Ikenna Ezealah
Nation Upbuilding 