AA/Alfonso LOGO
Assistant Secretary of State for the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs Molly Phee said Wednesday that by hosting the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, the US goal is to “reconfigure” relations between the two continents “to truly be able to respond to some challenges that are very close to the heart of the populations”.
He was hosting a digital press conference with Judd Devermont, the National Security Council’s senior director for African affairs.
“I think the United States is a good partner for Africa. We are a world power. We can have strong voices to defend some of the issues we will discuss at the summit. So we want to make sure we align with Africans’ vision for their future and for their continent,” Molly said in response to a question from the Anadolu Agency.
He also said that he would like that by the end of this summit “Africans could feel that the US partnership with Africa brings real changes to their daily lives in terms of health, safety, food security and, on the other hand, more investment and business opportunities.
“We also hope there are benefits for African workers who need adequate working conditions as is the case in the United States. In any case, I hope Africans and Americans come away from this summit with the impression that the dialogue has been deepened, particularly on issues that make a real difference on a daily basis,” added the Bureau’s Deputy Secretary of State. at the Department of State.
– Important issues will be at the center of the debates
This summit is scheduled for December 13-15 in the United States. It will focus on three key themes: democracy, governance and security.
“On day one we will hear the voices of civil society and young leaders on these issues. Then we will have a session chaired by US representatives on governance, security and democracy. We will then talk about the aspirations of Africa ”, detailed, for his part, Judd Devermont.
On African priorities, Devermont explained, an important speech by US President Joe Biden is expected.
“We expect that in these three days, with the interactions of the President and the other Secretaries of State, these various topics will be discussed in depth. We will talk to African leaders about what we can do together to strengthen democracy on the continent and respond to security challenges,” said Judd Devermont.
– The United States concerned about democracy issues
Judd Devermont also explained that the United States is “concerned about the democratic decline in Africa”, with in particular the coups in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. Especially since, he explains, “the demand for democracy in Africa is much higher than in any other region. It is around 70%”.
“We recognize that if we are to see a return to civil transition, it will take much more investment from us. In partnership with ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States, ed), the African Union, civil society and other institutions, we will discuss at the summit how we can do more and ensure that countries that have suffered coups find their way back to democracy,” Judd said.
According to him, the United States of America is available. They will do everything possible in this partnership, to “move towards a democratic transition in these countries” and all ideas and proposals will be welcome.
“We intend to work with all sections of African society to ensure that democracy returns,” he concluded.
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