The recent meeting of African heads of state and the United States President Barack Obama has opened a new window on the relationship between both sides. It is good that the meeting held at all.
Since Obama became US President, his relationship with Africa has largely been regarded as spotty, casual and aloof. Being the son of an African father, Obama had been expected to forge a much closer relationship with the continent, but that had not been the case. The summit may have helped to resolve the misgivings of African countries on this.
The Americans, on their part, consider Africa as peripheral to their vital national interests. Not without reason. To them, the continent is too far, too poor, and mostly corrupt to merit active US involvement, except in extreme humanitarian or security situations. Thus, it was fashionable for US envoys and State Department officials to make copious professions of US interest in Africa and the need to engage the continent, with little actually manifesting from such promises. This makes it difficult to fault erstwhile African skepticism on real US intentions.
It had been no surprise, therefore, that African leaders, in response, not only rejected the US-African Command but pressured vacillating African States to do the same. That the headquarters of the Command is still based in Europe is a testimony to the suspicion and distrust Africa holds for US intentions regarding the mission of the Command.
The recent emergence of terrorism as a mortal threat to several African countries now appears to justify America’s original proposal of security partnership. Credit must go to the US that it has readily offered to militarily help out in Somalia, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, and in the pursuit of the rampaging Lord’s Resistance Army in East and Central Africa. Secondly, much of Africa’s fears have not been based on current reality, for since the last ill-fated US military involvement in Somalia, no American Congressman or woman wants any further American military entanglements in the continent.
We think the US-Africa summit was also given added impetus by what now appears like a second scramble for Africa. The Chinese, newcomers, are in Africa. They have money, they have expertise, and they try to keep away from domestic politics. The Europeans who always thought they own Africa, which they actually parceled out in portions among themselves in the 1884 Berlin Partition of Africa, are feeling challenged on what used to be their turf. The Americans, by their superpower status can’t shrink from any competition in the world. So, they want their presence felt.
This renewed global interest in Africa is good for the continent as it presents an opportunity for quicker economic development, given Africa’s abject lack of capital, technical expertise and organisational skills.
The Obama administration deserves plaudits for the pledge of $33 billion toward Africa’s development, even though much more is needed to make significant impact on the continent. Even more important is Obama’s promise that the “US is determined to be a partner in Africa’s success.”
We also hope American investors will take the words of our own Dr. Aliko Dangote seriously. He averred that Americans who think of today’s Africa as they did a decade ago don’t know that “things have really changed dramatically.” The continent, he said, has been growing at about 5.5 per cent (per annum) on average in the last decade.”
The involvement of Obama and his key cabinet members in the summit indicates the importance the administration attached to the meeting with Africa’s leaders. That more than 100 US blue chips attended is proof of the interest of American corporations, some of which made public commitments. Electric power, for which the Obama administration has made a promise of $12 billion, is really at the heart of Africa’s, especially, Nigeria’s development. The prominent role of General Electric during the summit shows that the power project is on top of the agenda.
There is no doubt that President Obama would wish to leave a legacy on the continent that would be remembered long after he leaves office.
One of the surest ways to do so is to ensure that America’s promises to Africa during the summit are scrupulously kept. We are not unaware of the uphill tasks Obama faces in Congress, especially from right wingers who are often under the impression that the US is giving away too much in foreign aid, whereas the contrary is actually the case.
Africa always remembers a good turn. That is our culture. President George W. Bush may be one of the most unpopular ex-presidents, given his foreign policy missteps and the wrong war in Iraq, yet Africa remembers him well for his help in the fight against the AIDS pandemic.
President Carter will forever be remembered for ridding Nigeria of guinea worm. President Bill Clinton is well loved for his support for African causes. We therefore very much hope that President Obama will do even better for Africa than his predecessors.

Obama’s meeting with African leaders