50 heads of state and senior government officials from across the African continent will from 13 to 15 December 2022, converge in Washington D.C., within the context of the United States – Africa Leaders’ Summit hosted by the US President H.E Joseph R. Biden. According to the AU announcement, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, and a representative of the African Union Mission to the U.S. is expected to lead a powerful delegation to Washington.
According to the press releases, this year’s conference is aimed at demonstrating the Biden administration’s commitment to the African continent as well as, the importance of U.S.-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities. It is said new initiatives to increase U.S. engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as initiatives to boost COVID-19 recovery, food security, and investment in infrastructure, health, and renewable energy projects, among other pressing issues, will be on the agenda.
Activities during the summit will include a Civil Society Day, African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum, African Growth and Opportunity Act Ministerial Meeting, and a Business Day hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Corporate Council on Africa, in partnership with the Prosper Africa initiative.
“Africa will shape the future — not just the future of the African people, but of the world. Africa will make the difference in tackling the most urgent challenges and seizing the opportunities we all face,” read a statement posted on the U.S. State Department website.
The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit was launched under President Obama’s administration in 2014. The first summit engaged new private sector commitments to invest and partner with African countries on initiatives in energy, financial services, climate change, food security, and health care, among other areas.
