The contradictions of the US administration’s policy towards Africa were clear this week. On June 4, the sub -Committee of the US Senate concerned with Africa and the world health policy held a hearing entitled “The malicious influence of China in Africa”, a title that leaves no room for doubt in the way in which Congress views the continent.
The Chairman of the Sub -Committee, Ted Cruz, called for the diplomatic official Troy Vitreel, Acting US Secretary of State for Africa, who has 3 decades experience.
With a deliberate diplomatic tone, Vitril explained how the United States lost its position against China in Africa, and how to promote commercial diplomacy to address this.
On the same day, President Donald Trump released the latest travel ban, as citizens of 7 African countries were prevented from entering the United States.
African warning
The African Union responded quickly, asking Washington, “adopting a more consultative approach and engaging in a constructive dialogue with the countries concerned.”
The African Union warned of the impact of these measures on educational, diplomatic and commercial relations that have been carefully sponsored for decades.
But away from the cautious statements of Al -Ittihad, African students and companies have radically redirect their options.
In 2018, more than 81,000 African students were registered in China, according to UNESCO data, compared to 68,000 students in Britain and 55,000 in the United States.
New restrictions on student visas in the United States and Britain are expected to enhance these options, as tuition fees in Chinese universities are lower, and student visas are more easy.
In 2022, more than half of the African academic visa applications of the United States, which amounted to 56,000, were rejected due to errors in papers or lack of funding, according to the New York Times.
Given the influence of educational institutions on political leaders and businessmen, this transformation by African students will enhance China’s influence on the continent.
During the sub -committee session, Ambassador Vitril stressed that “the opportunity in Africa is not a theory, but our opponents are already exploited.”
In 2000, the United States was the second largest exporter of Africa, while in 2024, China exported $ 137 billion goods to Africa, more than 7 times the US exports of $ 17 billion.
The need for great efforts
Despite the tribute and enthusiasm of the Vitilizer experience, it will need great efforts to reflect these trends, but some of his initiatives have received resonance in Africa.
The list of plans is topped by a summit of African leaders in New York in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly in September, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the organization’s founding.
If Washington is able to mobilize money through entities such as the Development Financing Foundation, supported by the private sector, the implementation of several large projects may be accelerated.
It depends a lot on resolving American policy issues such as the future of the law of growth and African opportunities (AIA) and its associated customs privileges, in addition to the status of the Millennium Challenge Foundation (MCC), which funded many American projects in Africa before the Ministry of Government Efficiency, created by Elon Musk as part of cost reduction measures.
Vitler, who strongly supports the principles of law, confirmed that he needs to be updated, but he expected decisions about its reform soon, and before its review in September.
As for the Millennium Challenge Foundation, it indicated the continued discussions about its future.
He added that these transformations are in line with a more assertive American commercial diplomacy in Africa, which prompted some members of the Senate to ask about reports on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s plans to close the embassies and reduce the size of the African Affairs Department in Washington. Vitrell responded in the negative, stressing that the American embassies enhance their efforts in the fields of trade and investment.
It is expected that Vetrerell will soon go to Angola to meet President Joao Lorenzo, to support the United States and European Union Llito Corridor project, and to deliver a speech at the Corporate Council conference this month.
However, it will need many other initiatives, especially those that bring long -term investments and create job opportunities, if American companies are hoping to compete with Chinese domination for bilateral trade, extraction of biological minerals, and control of supply chains in Africa.
