US desperate for meddling in Africa, where Russia, China stand strong

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Mar 2023 14:40

The US -- insatiably hungry for metals that Africa houses -- is stepping up a push to increase American influence in Africa.

An artisanal miner climbs out of a gold mine with a bag of rocks broken off from inside the mining pit at the unlicensed mining site of Nsuaem Top in Ghana, November 24, 2018. (Reuters)

In what is beginning to resemble a new Cold War, President Joe Biden's administration is stepping up a push to increase American influence in Africa, where the US has fallen behind its primary competitors, a new report by Bloomberg suggested.

Next week, Vice President Kamala Harris will travel as the most recent high-ranking official, with stops planned in Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia. She is following recent visitors to the area, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. At a summit with the leaders of the continent in December, Biden promised a $55 billion aid package for the continent.

The desire to meddle in the mineral-rich continent comes in light of Russia's and China's growing cooperation with Africa, which shakes up American imperialism. In regions like Africa, the US is exerting strained efforts to win over non-aligned nations.

Although many African states have chosen to remain neutral and others have long-standing ties with Russia that include arms purchases, American diplomats have brought up the Ukrainian war with African leaders and urged them to support Kiev.

The economic rivalry with China, by far Africa's largest trading partner, whose commerce is expected to reach more than $260 billion this year, is probably of greater concern to Harris and her administration's colleagues.

#China is reinforcing its economical presence in #Africa, as the #US scatters to boost its declining investment in the continent, amid fears of losing its influence. pic.twitter.com/G25CD8KtwW
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 17, 2022

Africa has some of the world's largest supply of minerals, which are essential for green energy, and the US and China are at odds over debt relief as obligations for developing nations increase along with interest rates, the report noted.

Africa benefited from Chinese funding as it developed and built infrastructure. US policymakers are drawing attention to the "high cost" for borrowers and the challenges they have in making repayment to China.

US officials “won’t say that they are in competition with either China or Russia in Africa,” said Cameron Hudson, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Africa program as quoted by Bloomberg. Still, he said, “It’s clear that they are using these visits to draw a vivid distinction between Washington’s approach” and that of its rivals."

The US is infiltrating Africa under the guise of promoting "democracy", not to mention its recent bait of $165 million to allegedly support free and fair elections in Africa, along with baseless claims about the destabilizing influence of Russia's Wagner Group, which operates in nations like Mali and the Central African Republic.

Deeply ingrained links are being pressed upon by the US effort. Russia and nations like Egypt and Morocco have close trading ties. Russian and Chinese warships are now conducting training operations in South Africa's territorial waters.

Debt diplomacy: US weapon of choice against Africa

Debt diplomacy is another example. The countries on Harris' tour are Ghana and Zambia, both of which have seen defaults since the pandemic hit and are attempting to restructure debt.

For months, the US and its allies have voiced frustration over Beijing’s cooperation with some of the world’s poorest countries. China, the largest creditor to developing countries worldwide, has held up the process in several countries, fearing that it would set a precedent and shadow its relations with the African nations.

That is likely due to the fact that many growing nations in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America are not amenable to a "with-us-or-against-us" strategy. Picking sides can hinder efforts to advance their economies, therefore, they want to conduct business with both, the report argues.

“Our relationship with the US does not affect our relationship with China, and vice-versa,” says Jito Kayumba, special assistant for finance and investment to Zambia’s president, as quoted by Bloomberg. “We want to maintain all ties. It’s a legacy that we’re keeping since independence.”

African leaders are open to what the US has to give and mindful of the drawbacks of borrowing from China, according to a Biden administration official as cited by Bloomberg. The official noted that other nations, besides the US and China, are also attempting to expand their presence in Africa, including Saudi Arabia, India, and Turkey.

The US is hungry for lithium and cobalt

Meanwhile, the United States is pushing for a switch to clean energy, and African nations are home to some of the essential minerals for cutting-edge technologies, such as lithium and cobalt, which are used to build the batteries for electric automobiles.

In terms of establishing a fully vertical supply chain for the manufacture of electric vehicles, China is well ahead of the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the US continues to be insatiably hungry for metals that Africa controls.

The report acknowledged that the US must mend connections with Africa severed by Biden's predecessor.

A few nations with a majority of Muslims, several of them in Africa, were subject to a travel ban while Donald Trump was President. At a later meeting with lawmakers held behind closed doors, he referred to countries in Africa as "s—-hole countries".

“The Trump administration especially set us back,” said Jendayi Frazer, former assistant secretary of state for African affairs during the George W. Bush administration.