U.S. is committed $55 billion to Africa

National Security Adviser Sullivan said Monday that the United States would demonstrate its commitment to the continent with a $55 billion pledge. The 50 high-level African delegations will hold a three-day summit in Washington on Tuesday.

"The United States will commit $55 billion to Africa over the next three years, across a wide range of areas, to address the core challenges of our time," Sullivan said.
As the summit
progresses, he said, "we'll provide you with details of those deliverables."

In response to a question raised by VOA, Sullivan stressed that the money is not conditional on African countries condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Shortly after the invasion, 17 African countries abstained in a March U.N. vote condemning Russia.

Sullivan replied, "We are not forcing anyone with guns," and "we will show every nation of the world with passion and persistence that they should oppose these flagrant violations of the UN Charter." From the perspective of this summit, we are not setting conditions for decisions.

But corruption watchdog groups say those huge promises pale in comparison to the $88 billion illegally flowing out of the continent each year through property deals, offshore investments or anonymous shell companies.

Ian Gary, director general of the Alliance for Financial Responsibility and Corporate Transparency, said, "If you look at recent figures, U.S. government aid to sub-Saharan Africa is between $6.5 billion and $7.5 billion a year.

"Africa, on the other hand, has more to lose every year through illicit financial outflows." So recognize that if you want to support development in places like Africa, if you want to support economic development, if you want Africa to be able to deal with the climate crisis and the debt crisis, we need to do what the United States does to make sure that African governments have the resources to address these challenges. This is important.

Sullivan said the summit will include a mini-multilateral meeting between President Biden and a number of African leaders who have not yet been decided. The leaders will discuss topics such as elections on the continent in 2023, including presidential elections in Congo and Sudan, as well as South Sudan, the world's newest country.

Sullivan also said that the leaders of the 50 delegations will be invited to dinner with the Bidens at the White House on Wednesday evening.

The White House has been careful to mention China, America's biggest rival on the continent. China, which has been a major borrowing and infrastructure player in Africa, has faced criticism of lending practices, which China's ambassador to the United States denies.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang, speaking Monday at the Sema for Africa Summit in Washington, said, "China's investment and financial assistance to Africa is not a trap, it is a welfare," and "there is no such trap." This is not a conspiracy. This is clearly transparent and sincere.”

But White House press secretary Jean-Biel said the U.S. will focus on a wide range of topics during the summit, including development, governance and food security that could define the continent's future.

"It's not about China," she said, "It's about Africa." ”