Biden administration: the White House takes color

The Biden administration looks soft on an Africa neglected by its predecessor. In the speech of the American president at the summit of the Union, the new American president announces that he wants to put the “moral authority” of the United States back at the center of his African policy.

Donald Trump having deserted Africa, Joe Biden is positioning himself as the architect of the return of the United States to the continent. “Partners in solidarity, support and mutual respect. We believe in African nations, ”summed up the new African president to talk about his future African policy.

The image of Joe Biden contrasts with that of Donald Trump. At the 34th African Union summit, Joe Biden left a video message in which he uses the term “respect” no less than nine times. Sure, it's hard to do worse than Trump, but isn't Biden adding too much?

In any case, after the words, the actions: the New US administration has already started reviewing its policy regarding visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians, Sudanese and Somalis, among others.

Joe Biden also assured that his country would be more involved in the emergencies of the moment, namely the Covid-19 and the ecological question..

A "diversified government"

On the United States side, Biden also slices with Trump. The American government, usually with a white tendency, takes on a few colors. After choosing the current vice-president Kamala Harris as his Caribbean partner in the electoral race, Joe Biden decided to appoint other black figures to key positions. A new wind is blowing on the White House.

Marcia Fudge, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, is part of the Biden administration announced in mid-February. The new director of the Home Policy Council, Susan Rice, as well as the new US representative to the UN Linda Greenfield are both African-American women.

A Ghanaian at the head of the strategic MCC

A symbolic appointment strategy, to say the least. But Biden made a strong gesture by appointing Mahmoud Bah, of Ghanaian descent, to head the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Since 2004, the MCC has been the development program that determines American financial support to each African country.

Formerly the MCC representative in Côte d'Ivoire, Bah has already participated in the assessment of the African context in the annual MCC ranking, on which many African countries depend because American financial support constitutes a significant part of their national GDP.

Wanting to give a little more space to the African community installed in the United States, the Biden administration decided to reactivate the Young African Leaders Initiative (Yali) program.

What actions in Africa?

In a video message to the African Union, the American president promised consistency and mutual respect between his country and the continent. Promises which, if they are to be strong, must be acted upon. Certainly, Biden has already called his Kenyan counterpart to, in particular, talk about Tigray. Still, Joe Biden's record does not speak for him: the ticket he formed with Barack Obama was not beneficial for the Third World in general, and Africa in particular.

Joe Biden will have a lot to do to reweave the link with a continent forgotten in recent years by the United States. For that, the American president will have to be aware of the stakes. Its campaign themes - the rights of women, LGBTQ people, the disabled - are, for some African countries, far removed from continental realities. Africa must currently manage the health and economic crisis, and expects an innovative trade policy from the United States. A far cry from Biden's fine speeches to AU leaders.