U.S. Institute of Peace experts discuss the latest foreign policy issues from around the world in On Peace, a brief weekly collaboration with SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 124.

Transcript

Laura Coates: Joseph Sany is a PhD and vice president of the Africa Center at the United States Institute of Peace. He joins us now. Good morning. How are you?

Joseph Sany: Good morning, Laura. Great. Thank you for asking. And thank you for having me on your show.

Laura Coates: I'm glad that you're here. Thank you. I know Secretary of State and Antony Blinken was one an African tour that included Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Angola, just to name a few. This trip was very important as a demonstration of United's commitment to Africa and has been an important one from a lot of different angles, walk us through a little bit about his visit to some of these countries along the coast of West Africa.

Joseph Sany: Yes, thank you, I think this [inaudible], Secretary Blinken's meeting in Africa, and I think this one is particularly important because the trip took place in the context of all the global crises we have, Ukraine and Gaza. But he took the time to visit the continent. Let me, I will say there are four major goals here, I think. One is to reaffirm the administration, strong desire really to strengthen the U.S. Africa conditions, that's important. And also remember, we had the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit in 2022. So that was also I will believe a follow up of all the commitments that were made at that summit. And I think frankly, number three, I think it's also the desire of the administration to shift the focus from some of the thorny challenges the continent is facing, the war in Sudan, Ethiopia, the coup d'etat in the Sahel, and it really to focus the narrative on the positives, on the potential for growth, that the continent represented. By visiting Nigeria, Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, these are countries with tremendous growth potential, these are all producers, these are countries sitting at the close of the Atlantic Council, the Atlantic Ocean with all the potential for secure maritime security and, and economies etcetera. So, I think it was important for the Secretary to highlight that part of the continent that people may ignore. And I will also see President Biden made a commitment two years ago to visit the continent. He did not. And so, by this visit was also a way to catch up, to substitute for that missed opportunity to find out why President Biden did not visit the continent. I think.

Laura Coates: That's an important point. But here we are several years into the, you know, this is the final year of the administration and they're seeking reelection, obviously, and hoping to be extending that, but that is given an important point. You also have the different countries within Nigeria, most populous the biggest economy, largest oil and gas producer, largest democracy. You've got the Ivory Coast, you've got you know, issues with the large economy and oil and gas industry among the French states. Angola, important in its own right. And of course, there are some security and political challenges with each as well. Can you describe a little bit about some of those aspects, not only the economic aspects of these nations and what the interests of the United States would be, but also the security challenges?

Joseph Sany: Yes, I think you said it well, Laura, Nigeria is the most populous country the biggest economy, in fact, the continent, tremendous potential in terms of oil, gas, but also the creative industries. We have all danced to the to the tunes of Nigerian artists and musicians. So, there is a tremendous economic potential in Nigeria. Of course, they are facing the Boko Haram, the bandit in the Northeast. So, there are also security challenges. But these are not incompatible. You can see still do business in Nigeria and make money at the same time that the United States can help and work with Nigeria to beef up their security. And it sits on the Atlantic coast, that's important. I will come back to it later. Cote d'Ivoire, the biggest Francophone economy, French speaking countries in West Africa, and also they have managed so far to stabilize the security situation, but again, these are coastal countries facing the terrorist groups coming from the Sahel. So, there are also security challenges there. And you have Cabo Verde and Angola, a major, major partner we are, the United States is investing on the Lobito corridor, one of the biggest infrastructure and transformative projects on the continent right now supported by the United States. Angola is a major partner economically and also as a security partner that Angola is playing an important role in the conflict in the DRC. And what are those countries also have in common, and that's the has not been mentioned so far, is that they are all members of the New Atlantic partnership. That's a partnership for Atlantic cooperations, that mission just launched last September, to ensure a secure and open and safe maritime along the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic coast. So those three countries all together represent an important security and economic partnership, so it was not a random visit. It was very strategic, from the U.S. perspective.

Laura Coates: It certainly sounds like it is and I wonder in terms of the visit, you know, you've mentioned a couple things in particular the agreement to find the Lobito corridor to help build railway linking Angola and Zambia and the DRC. But I also wonder, do the heads of state in each local country feel as though there were tangible things that were gained from the visits or are these were these symbolic more in nature?

Joseph Sany: You hit the nail on his head here, Laura. You are right, that people keep asking yes. Where are the goodies? The visits are great, but we need a tangibles. I think there are a couple of tangibles. I will not underestimate the importance of this visit. Remember, it is doing this visits this kind of visit that you build the relationships and you can tell the hard truths, right in the partnership. The Buddhists are coming the fact that you mentioned the Lobito coordinators, the MCC in Cabo Verde, for example, in Cote d'Ivoire, United States making important investment from USAID investment, and they are saying the same thing in Nigeria. But I think I will say the most important thing is that it takes two to tango, during that test cannot do it alone, African countries will have to play their part as well. Do we not understand we know go and ensure that the rule of law is respected. I mean, Laura, you are a citizen, legal expert, you know this without the rule of law. You cannot do anything, let alone democracy itself. So, I think it's important to emphasize that as the United States, reaches out to African countries, as African countries rightly so expect tangibles, they also have to play their role in making sure that there is a solid regulatory framework, that the rule of law is respected. And if there is political stability, we can't forget that. So, it's important. The goal they have I mean, the United States has to ensure that the speeches are followed by deed, but African countries, will also have to play their part.

Laura Coates: There has been as you can understand, and we have all seen an overwhelming and overarching focus on war torn countries and regional conflicts, whether it's Gaza or Ukraine, or the sort of the possible spread of what's happening in any of these areas, Israel and beyond. You know, there has been a prioritization, at least in the focus on these nations, some would say to the detriment of other countries that are also seeking the attention of the United States and financial assistance. Do these particular visits demonstrate a prioritization on these nations? Or will they continue to be lower on the totem pole, so to speak, than these other countries that are facing immediate foreign conflicts and internal dissent?

Joseph Sany: Yeah, there's no question that those conflicts the weather returned to you as a conflict then you can do Russia question of whether you take the Gaza. The conflict between Israel and Hamas and Gaza, definitely affected prioritizations of the United States. These are the Africa for example, I think Africa unfortunately, no matter what they say, will not take, will not have the same level of priority as other countries, unfortunately. Even though Africa is a major player, and Africa, in fact, most of the biggest challenges the world is facing, whether it is climate, whether it is migration, etcetera, solutions are found on the continent. But for some geopolitical consideration, I have to admit, Africa it seems that impression, and in fact, in reality as well, is not on top of the list, unfortunately. Yeah, there is an impact. I will not see it otherwise, there is an impact and Africa is pushed to the background. That's for sure.

Laura Coates: So, when this happened, and looking ahead, in terms of the next steps, it this is obviously Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has visited President Biden is he expected to attend or come as well, at some point?

Joseph Sany: That's a tough one. That's I think it's a question for the administration. I think, given the electoral year, the elections coming I don't anticipate with the Biden visit to the continent anytime soon. We wish for an appearance during the AU summit in February, maybe. But it will be difficult logistically, I mean, you follow the politics in this country as I do and even better than I do.

Laura Coates: But we'll see what happens going forward about the tangibles and beyond the visit has obviously been a kind of success. Joseph Sany, thank you for joining us today. I really appreciate your time and your insight. Thank you.

Joseph Sany: Thank you, Laura.