InsiderBLM Africa
As she began a week-long tour of the continent to counter the influence of rival China, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday that the United States will boost investment in Africa and aid in economic growth.
In recent decades, China has made significant investments in Africa, particularly in the development of infrastructure and natural resources. At the same time, Russian influence has increased, in part due to the deployment of Russian military personnel from the private military contractor Wagner Group to support governments in a number of nations.
As soon as she landed in Ghana, her first stop on a trip that will also take her to Tanzania and Zambia, Harris declared, “On this trip, I intend to do work that is focused on increasing investments here on the continent and facilitating economic growth and opportunity.”
In part to provide a rival power with a viable alternative, the Biden administration has worked to deepen ties with Africa.
Prior to a U.S.-Africa summit, the U.S. pledged $55 billion to the continent over the following three years in December. During a visit to Niger this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $150 million in new humanitarian aid for Africa’s Sahel region.
As president, Biden has not yet traveled to Africa.
According to senior U.S. officials, Harris will also talk about China’s involvement in debt restructuring, as well as China’s involvement in technology and economic issues in Africa that the United States finds troubling.
This week, Harris will meet with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and travel to a former slave castle where slaves were transported to America during the time of the slave trade.
Harris will visit Tanzania from March 29 to 31 before traveling to Ghana from March 26 to 29. Zambia will be her final stop on March 31 and April 1. She intends to announce both public and private sector investments during her meeting with the presidents of the three nations.
