President Obama invited 50 African leaders to the first three-day U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit to discuss the strength, future of trade, and investment for Africa.
The Summit, scheduled on August 4 – 6, focused on “investing in the next generation,” according to BBC World News. It was the “largest event any American president has hosted with African heads of state and government.”
Months before the Summit, students and civil servants from various regions of Africa travelled to Washington to attend a fellowship program meant to address the future of African growth and success: growing leaders and entrepreneurs.
The fellowship was an opportunity for activists to speak about African culture, and address any false, or misguided, views and information portrayed by Western media, as it so often makes out Africa to be a dark place, overwhelmed with war, and people stricken with immense poverty living in dilapidated areas.
While addressing the activist’s pre-Summit, President Obama explained that leaders must turn to internal aid when determining how to relieve problems, most of which were developed in the colonial era.
BBC World News reports that the U.S. administration views the Summit as a way to better African initiatives, foster trade relationships, and counter-terrorism cooperation.
African leaders view the one-on-one talks with President Obama as the most meaningful way to continue igniting change and stimulating African economies, which are projected to grow at an average of 5.6% in the next two years, based on BBC World News projections, starting with about $900 million worth in deals between the U.S. and Africa.
Sarina deSousa
Business Manager
sdesousa2@ucmerced.edu