Africa is increasingly becoming a main stage for great power competition. Last week, Japan wrapped up its triennial Africa summit where they threw some shade China’s way. A few weeks earlier, the U.S. unveiled a refreshed foreign policy strategy for the continent, and China remains intensely focused on bolstering ties with African governments — partially as a hedge against heightened U.S. pressure elsewhere.
While U.S. officials have said for years that it’s important for Washington to focus on Africa and step up its engagement across the board, there’s been very little in the way of action. But this time, Zainab Usman, the director of the Africa program at the influential Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, thinks it may be different.
Zainab joins Eric and Cobus from Washington to talk about her cautious optimism that the U.S. is now finally ready to step up its engagement in Africa.
SHOW NOTES:
- Foreign Affairs:ย How America Can Foster an African Boom by Zainab Usman: https://fam.ag/3cIbQy3
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: The New U.S. Africa Strategy Breaks From the Status QuoโWith Some Perplexing Stumbles by Zainab Usman: https://bit.ly/3wPGxIu
- Amazon: Economic Diversification in Nigeria: The Politics of Building a Post-Oil Economy by Zainab Usman: https://amzn.to/3CR2Z82
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