On Tuesday, coinciding with United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s Africa tour, the White House released a document titled ‘US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa’ that reframes the region’s importance Washington’s strategic and trade blueprint.
The document says the region is crucial for efforts to: end the COVID-19 pandemic; tackle the climate crisis; reverse the global tide of democratic backsliding; address global food insecurity; strengthen an open and stable international system; shape the rules of the world on vital issues like trade, cyber, and emerging technologies; and confront the threat of terrorism, conflict, and transnational crime.
By 2050, 1 in 4 people on Earth will be African. Our strategy for sub-saharan Africa is rooted in the recognition that this large, diverse region is a major geopolitical force—one that has shaped our past, is shaping our present, and will shape our future: https://t.co/uY9XPiKxyQ
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 8, 2022
Strategic Environment
The US’ strategy considers the African sub-continent, which accounts for 28% of votes in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and will comprise 25% of the world’s population by 2050, to be crucial in solving global challenges. It is home to the world’s second-largest rainforest and 30% of its critical minerals. Furthermore, its strategic location along major trade routes in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and Gulf of Aden has prompted the US and its allies in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific to work to “advance high-standards, values-driven, and transparent investments, as well as address political and security crises” in the region. It also states that once the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is fully implemented, the region would be the fifth-largest economy in the world, with a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion.
In sharp contrast, the document notes that China sees Africa as a way to “challenge the rules-based international order, advance its own narrow commercial and geopolitical interests, undermine transparency and openness, and weaken the US’ relations with African peoples and governments.”
Similarly, it argues that Russia views the region as useful for private military companies, in an apparent reference to the Wagner Group, which fuel “instability for strategic and financial benefit.”
There's lots in the strategy, though it seems a bit ‘we want to engage with Africa on its own terms and not make it all about competing with China and Russia... but by the way we would like African states to know that China and Russia are baddies’.
— Joseph Cotterill (@jsphctrl) August 8, 2022
In this regard, it says the Department of Defense will “expose and highlight the risks of negative activities” by China and Russia.
It also accuses Moscow of using its security and economic ties, as well as disinformation, to undermine the Africans’ “principled opposition” to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and related human rights abuses. It thus asserts that the US is responding to the “growing foreign activity and influence in sub-Saharan Africa,” which is “undergoing significant transformations to its socioeconomic, political, and security landscape.”
.@SecBlinken: The overwhelming majority of people across Africa prefer democracy to any other form of government. Even greater majorities oppose the authoritarian alternatives to democracy: more than 70% reject military rule and more than 80% reject one-man rule. pic.twitter.com/tEYBXbNopr
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 9, 2022
The region has also been severely impacted by the convergence of armed conflict and terrorism, climate change, food insecurity, and COVID-19 pandemic-induced health and economic woes that have hampered 20 years of development gains, leading to unprecedented levels of displacement and hunger.
The document also touches on armed conflicts and humanitarian crises in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, and across the Sahel, noting that the region provides a fertile breeding ground for terror groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. To this end, it calls for “funding multiple peacekeeping missions and historic levels of humanitarian assistance.”
Additionally, the paper points out that though 69% of the population supports democracy, a series of military coups and democratic setbacks have further deteriorated governance and security conditions, creating “negative ripple effects on neighboring countries.” In 2022, Freedom House classified only eight sub-Saharan African countries as free—the lowest number since 1991. “The gap between public aspirations and closing civic space in some countries has given rise to increased volatility and a wave of protest movements,” the document says.
In line with what @SecBlinken said today in Pretoria while launching the U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa, I told the @UN Security Council that we believe Africa will shape the future – not just the future of the African people – but of the world.https://t.co/mlz2WYg4kF
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) August 8, 2022
Strategic Objectives
The document outlines five objectives to advance the US’ priorities in cooperation with regional partners over the next five years: Foster Openness and Open Societies; Deliver Democratic and Security Dividends; Advance Pandemic Recovery and Economic Opportunity; and Advance Pandemic Recovery and Economic Opportunity; and Support Conservation, Climate Adaptation, and Just Energy Transition.
The US wants to ensure that the region is “open and accessible to all,” as this will attract greater American trade and investment, will help pursue policies to improve conditions for their citizens, and counter harmful activities by China, Russia, and other foreign actors. Keeping this in mind, Washington will work with African governments, civil society, and the public to increase transparency and accountability, and improve fiscal transparency, expose corruption, and support reforms and independent judiciaries.
Furthermore, the US plans to help African countries to more transparently and sustainably leverage their natural resources, including energy and critical minerals, while also creating diverse, open, and predictable supply chains. In addition, it will address the drivers of food insecurity and boost food production to alleviate the risk of malnutrition and famine, which affects nearly 800 million Africans.
It will also focus on addressing emerging and long-running conflicts, along with poor governance, corruption, human rights abuses, and insecurity, to reaffirm that “democracy delivers tangible benefits.” To this end, Washington proposes to stop the rampant authoritarianism and military takeovers through a “targeted mix of positive inducements and punitive measures, such as sanctions,” and partnering with the African Union (AU) to address public dissatisfaction.
Africa’s people, institutions, and governments play defining roles in building our future. Our strategy explains how we will work with our African partners to achieve shared goals. I look forward to building that future with African leaders in December. https://t.co/2z2JPF7g1S
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 8, 2022
In addition, the US will prioritise counterterrorism resources to reduce the threat of terrorist groups. In this regard, Washington will employ tailored schemes “to build the capacity of local partners’ security, intelligence, and judicial institutions to identify, disrupt, degrade, and share information on terrorists and their support networks.”
Washington aims to strengthen existing partnerships to end the COVID-19 pandemic and enhance health security in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the West African Health Organization.
Simultaneously, it plans to streamline financing and diversify supply chains through the global Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) scheme, under which the G7 have already committed $600 billion. PGII will also complement new and existing efforts, including Prosper Africa, Power Africa, Feed the Future, and a new initiative for digital transformation.
In an effort to address rising food insecurity in the wake of the Ukraine war, Washington will also work with African countries “to rebuild the human capital and food systems.”
Additionally, it has maintained its commitment to sustainability and climate action, saying it wants to “conserve, manage, and restore the continent’s rich natural ecosystems, which can help reduce global carbon emissions and dampen climate change impacts.”
There seems to be a conscious effort by Team Biden to avoid painting African nations as pawns in some geopolitical great game with China, which lends itself to how this is framed.
— Robbie Gramer (@RobbieGramer) August 8, 2022
But they're in a bit of a bind there, because there IS geopolitical competition with China
A 21st Century U.S.-African Partnership
“The United States must reset its relations with African counterparts, listen to diverse local voices, and widen the circle of engagement to advance its strategic objectives to the benefit of both Africans and Americans,” the document asserts. In this regard, Washington aims to elevate the US-African partnership, engage with more African states, bolster the region’s civil society, support new geographical groupings, “deepen” engagement with the AU, and strengthen the dialogue between the US officials and the African diaspora.
The US will also promote sustainable development and resilience, refine and reinvest in American defence tools for “effective, legitimate, and accountable militaries,” strengthen trade and commercial relations, increase access to the internet and other communication technologies, and drive investment towards building more urban hubs.