US Vice President arrives in Africa on weeklong trip to boost ties

Africa, News, US March 27, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

United States Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Ghana on March 26, 2023, as she began her week-long trip to African countries seeking better ties amid Russia and China’s increasing influence in the region.

Soon after arriving in Ghana, Kamala Harris explained the reason behind her trip by stating that “On this trip, I intend to do work that is focused on increasing investments here on the continent and facilitating economic growth and opportunity… and to support the work that must be done to increase food security, including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis.”

U.S. Vice President Harris further added that “We are looking forward to this trip as a further statement of the long and enduring very important relationship and friendship between the people of the United States and those who live on this continent.” She is scheduled to travel to Tanzania and Zambia later this week.

The energy and creativity of Ghana’s young leaders will shape the future of Africa – and the world. pic.twitter.com/5vjmRhZw92
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 26, 2023

According to the White House statement, after arriving in Ghana, Harris said that: “I am here to address some of the issues that relate to the partnership between this continent, its people, and the people of the United States, and to reinforce the work that we will continue to do together, be that on addressing the climate crisis, to supply chains, to our work together on international rules and norms.”

Harris is set to meet Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo. She will also visit a castle in Accra, a historically significant location in the heart of Africa from where thousands of Africans were forcibly sent to the U.S. during the slave trade era.

After conducting her trip to Ghana from March 26 to March 29, Harris would travel to Tanzania from March 29 to March 31. Her final stop in Africa trip is Zambia where she would remain from March 31 to April 1. She plans to announce public- and private-sector investments in all three countries as she meets the leaders from African nations.

*^{U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris received a welcome from the people of Ghana after arriving at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. (Image Credit: Twitter/@VP)}*

Biden administration has been trying to improve ties with African countries, particularly after the U.S.’s rival powers are increasing their influence in the continent. For decades, China has been investing heavily in African infrastructure development projects. Russia is also growing an influence on the continent through its mediation efforts for peacebuilding in several African countries. Russia is also helping regimes in African countries by providing them with mercenary forces of its Wagner group to fight the civil unrest.

The leaders of African nations are increasingly aware of the region’s importance in the global geopolitical landscape, this has allowed several African countries to strive to make new alliances to shift interests between the east and the west.

Kamala Harris’s trip to Africa comes shortly after the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken completed his trip to Niger where he announced $150 million worth of new humanitarian aid programs in Africa’s Sahel region. Blinken also visited South Africa, Rwanda, Algeria, Morocco, and the Democratic Republic of Congo a few months prior to that.

In December last year, Washington also hosted the U.S.-African leader summit where the Biden administration committed $55 billion in funds to be spent on the continent’s well-being and humanitarian development projects.