US President Joe Biden on Friday 5 February promised a closer partnership between the United States and Africa, and said he hoped to participate in person at the next African Union summit, a reversal of American policy on this continent largely ignored by its predecessor.
In a video message to participants at the African Union summit which is being held this weekend by teleconference due to the coronavirus pandemic, the newly appointed president promised to work with Africans on his key priorities, the fight against virus and climate change, advocating multilateralism to end the continent’s conflicts.
“None of this will be easy, but the United States stands ready now to be your partner in solidarity, support, and mutual respect.”, Joe Biden said. “I hope I can be with you in person next time”, he added.
In what has become one of the recurring themes of his early term in office, the US president pledged to promote democracy and the rights of sexual minorities, frequently the targets of attacks in certain African states.
“Investing in our democratic institutions”
Joe Biden also said he wants to work with Africa “To a future committed to investing in our democratic institutions and in the promotion of the human rights of all: women and girls, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and individuals of all origins, religions, and ethnic heritages”
Joe Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, was the first president since Ronald Reagan not to visit Africa during his tenure, and created controversy when he baselessly claimed that his own predecessor Barack Obama was born in Kenya and was therefore ineligible for the presidency of the United States.
Donald Trump had also created controversy for having described African nations in a very pejorative manner, when asked why he did not want non-white immigrants to the United States.
