At a summit with dozens of the leaders of state from the continent, US President Joe Biden promised billions of dollars in additional investment for the continent.
President Biden informed the 49 African leaders present at the meeting in Washington, DC, “The United States is all in on Africa’s future.”
It is the first such event that Washington has held in eight years.
The conference is perceived as the US’s effort to assert its influence in Africa once again in opposition to Chinese involvement.
Additionally, it follows Donald Trump’s four years in power, during which time he alienated many African leaders with his policy choices and nasty remarks.
Mr Biden struck a very different tone to his predecessor, speaking optimistically of improved links with Africa and telling the gathering that “when Africa succeeds, the United States succeeds. Quite frankly, the whole world succeeds as well.”
He said that the crises facing the world today need African leadership, ideas and innovations, and promised to build on the “vital” investments in Africa made by previous US administrations.
To that end, Mr Biden announced $55bn (£44bn) of US funding planned for Africa over the next three years. The sum includes $100m for clean energy projects and $350m for internet access and digital technology.
The US is also set to sign a memorandum with the African Continental Free Trade Area – one of the world’s biggest free-trade areas – which Mr Biden said would “unlock new opportunities for trade and investment” between the US and Africa.
On the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday, Mr Biden separately met the six leaders of African nations which are holding elections in 2023 to press for a free vote.
Before the end of the summit on Thursday, the US president is also expected to back the African Union’s admission as a permanent member of the Group of 20 major economies. It is also likely that he will announce a trip to the continent in the new year.
The summit is widely being seen as Mr Biden’s attempt to win back influence in Africa with personal diplomacy, as well as with funding and investment.
Many have noted that America is trying to catch up with other countries, including Russia and especially China, that have developed stronger ties in recent years with Africa.
