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Obama hosts Africa summit with an eye on his legacy
But it would be 4 years before Obama returned to Africa, a yawning gap that raised questions about the extent of his commitment to continent. Unlike his predecessor George W. Bush, who launched a US$15 billion program to address HIV/AIDS, Obama seemed to be lacking a signature Africa initiative. And his administration’s focus turned instead to the Arab Spring movement sweeping through the Middle East, a heavily promoted rebalance toward Asia and a slew of pressing security concerns.
Analysts say Obama’s second term has brought about a more robust focus on Africa. The president made a three-country trip to the continent last summer and aides say he’s likely to travel there again before the end of his second term. He’s also launched a new “Power Africa” initiative that aims to leverage billions in private sector commitments to bring electricity to 20 million households in sub-Saharan Africa. And he’s launched a fellowship program for young African leaders that received more than 50,000 applications for 500 slots this year.
Also factoring into the U.S. focus on Africa: China, which has ramped up its investment in the natural resource-rich continent and whose leaders make frequent trips to the continent.
U.S. officials try to draw a distinction between Chinese and American investment in Africa. While Beijing may spend more money, they argue that the Chinese focus more on extracting resources from Africa for their own purposes rather than boosting African capacity and building long-term economic relationships. “We do believe we bring something unique to the table,” said Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser. “We are less focused on resources from Africa and more focused on deepening trade and investment relationships.”
Source: Associated Press
