President Joe Biden on Friday promised to partner with Africa and said he hoped to attend the next African Union summit, a turnaround in US interest in a continent largely ignored by its predecessor.
In a video message to the African Union summit this weekend, largely due to Covid, the new US leader pledged to work with Africans on their top priorities in combating the virus and climate change and also to promote diplomacy for end continent conflicts.
“None of this is going to be easy, but the United States is now ready to be your partner in solidarity, support and mutual respect,” said Biden.
“I hope I can be with you next time in person.”
In what became the first themes of his presidency, Biden promised to promote democracy and the rights of sexual minorities – who are frequently under attack in Africa.
Biden said he wanted to work with Africa in “a future committed to investing in our democratic institutions and promoting the human rights of all people – women and girls, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities and people of all ethnic backgrounds, religions and heritage . “
Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, was the first president since Ronald Reagan not to visit Africa during his tenure and gained prominence by promoting the falsehood that his predecessor Barack Obama was born in Kenya.
Trump was famously quoted for using a bad word to describe African nations when explaining why he did not want non-white immigrants in the United States.
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