GIS

Africa is the continent of the future. Yet Europe and the United States are not paying enough attention to its 1.4 billion people. They are losing influence to China and Russia.

Secretary Blinken stressed that Washington will “not dictate” which choices Africa should make and “neither should anyone else.” The U.S. will launch a “Global Fragility Act” of $200 million each year for the next 10 years. This program “will make a decade-long investment in promoting more peaceful, more inclusive, more resilient societies in places where conditions are ripe for conflict.” The U.S. commitment is no match for Chinese investment. Ms. Pandor derided partners “in Europe and elsewhere” for their patronizing and bullying attitudes. The “elsewhere” might have been a diplomatic way to include the U.S. and the “Global Fragility Act.”

African countries need understanding, equal treatment and respect – which they receive from their non-Western partners.

Specifically, the West can help by giving easier access to its markets for African products. To encourage Western businesses to operate on the continent, their investments need to be legally protected. Protectionism, red tape and regulatory barriers are a big problem, both in Africa and the West.