President Joe Biden said on Thursday, December 15, 2022 that he will visit sub-Saharan Africa next year, making him the first U.S. President to travel there in a decade.

He announced the trip, though unscheduled, as he drew the curtains on the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. He stressed his seriousness about increasing U.S. attention to the growing continent.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you in your home countries,” Biden said

The Biden administration used the summit to strengthen relations with African nations as China has surpassed the U.S. in trade with Africa and is aiming to grow its military presence.

The African continent is indispensable to global powers because of its rapidly growing population, significant natural resources and sizable voting bloc in the United Nations.

Some leaders who took part in summit made their stance clear that they want the Biden administration to refrain from forcing them to choose between the U.S. and its global competitors when it comes to trade matters.

Biden formally announced that he supports the African Union becoming a permanent member of the Group of 20 nations.

Additionally, Biden announced plans to spend $2 billion to help bolster food security on the continent and $165 million to help African nations carry out peaceful and transparent elections next year.

“Our eyes are fixed squarely on the future,” Biden said.

The elections-funding announcement came after Biden met on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 with a small group of leaders whose countries have elections in the new year.

Those leaders were Democratic Republic of the Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Liberia President George Manneh Weah, Madagascar President Andry Nirina Rajoelina, Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio.

The upcoming elections in African nations are regarded as important indicators of the strength of democracy across the continent.

AU Chair Highlights Africa’s Woes

Senegalese President Macky Sall, who doubles as the African Union chairman, in remarks at Thursday’s session thanked Biden for his commitment to Africa. Nonetheless, he also said Africa’s countries face adverse challenges; from rising food insecurity to badly needed infrastructure improvements to fend off the blight of climate change.

Sall criticized pending U.S. legislation that he said unfairly “targeted” Africa, an apparent reference to a measure titled “Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa.”

Lawmakers sponsoring the bill say the legislation is intended to prevent Moscow from using Africa to bypass U.S. sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.

The Senegalese President also voiced concerns about years-long U.S. sanctions against Zimbabwe for corruption and human rights violations, saying that it was time to lift the penalties so the nation could “fight against poverty and underdevelopment.”

Africa has been extremely harmed by the rise of global food prices sparked by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Sall opined that it was critical to take heed of the “lessons” of the crises of the pandemic and war.

“The time is right to take vigorous action in the field of agriculture and food security,” Sall noted.

Sall added that the African Union expects a “strong commitment and support” from the United States on countering terrorism.

Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, did not make it to Africa during his COVID-19 dominated presidency in which he made no foreign visits during his final eleven months.

Trump was the first President since Ronald Reagan not to visit the African continent during his presidency.