U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: A fruitful venture or mere jamboree?

United States president hosted African leaders in Washington from 4-6 August, 2014. The event was unprecedented as no American president ever hosted all African leaders at a sitting. 

The summit themed “Investing in the next generation” was highly publicised within American establishment and viewed as one of Obama’s key legacies in office. 

Obama made his extended trip as president of United States of America to Africa in the summers of 2013 after much criticism on his alleged neglect of the continent thereby giving room for China to establish more cordial ties with African States. 

It is interesting to know that African has largely been seen as “backward and corrupt geographical space inhabited by subhuman species, but endowed with abundant natural resources. Thus the idea of forcing development projects down the throats of the people without seeking their inputs and engaging with the continent on aid rather than trade basis reigned supreme within the western establishments until the advent of China on the continent.

China on its part seeks cooperation with the Government in place and avoid as much as possible internal dynamics of its trading nation while focusing its concerns solely on business. China however decides to trade rather than aid and provides infrastructures which are largely deficient in many African States.

Though there were environmental issues and labour concerns with the way China goes about its business in Africa, its approach nonetheless resonates more with the population who feel there are tangible benefits to show for its involvement on their soils.

China overtook America as the largest trading partner of Africa five years ago (2009) with Beijing’s trade worth about $200 billion per annum; a figure twice of Washington’s trade with Africa. In view of this, the summit in Washington comes as a little surprise as America is aiming to recover its lost ground in Africa.

Doing this will involve change in strategies, policies and most importantly old stereotypes of seeing Africa in terms of its commodities instead of its people. Having been aware of this, Obama said of Africa in the wake of the summit

  

            “I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world – partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect.”

Where relationship is based on mutual responsibility and respect between Western and African partners remain to be seen. As America proposes $33 billion in commitments to African development in this summit, it is hoped that the fund will be judiciously expended and benefits the downtrodden rather than line the pockets of the few, of course with active connivance of the western establishments.

Anything short of benefiting the people will simply amount to jamboree, sightseeing and shopping sprees on the part of African leaders and their entourage who visited Washington.