IPNEWS-Monrovia: On Thursday, July 21, 2022, United States Vice President, Kamala Harris in her virtual remarks at the opening ceremony of the U.S. – Africa Business Summit, announced that the White House will host leaders from Across Africa on December 13-15, 2022, for the U.S. – Africa Leaders’ Summit.
The U.S. Vice President said the Summit demonstrates America’s enduring commitment to its African partners and to bolstering the economic relationship between the U.S. and the African continent.
The announcement was made at the U.S-Africa Business Summit organized by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in partnership with the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and held in Marrakech under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI of Morocco. With more than one thousand (1000) African and U.S. public and private sector leaders in attendance, Vice President Harris’ announcement of the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit was well received and generated excitement about the future of the U.S.-Africa economic and broader strategic relationship.
The announcement of the December 13-15 U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit “is great news for CCA and our private sector members and other partners. The last Africa Leaders’ Summit was held in 2014 and a second such Summit in 2022 clearly demonstrates Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Africa” said Florizelle (Florie) Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa.
The U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit will bring together U.S. and African government and business leaders, civil society, and diaspora communities who will likely discuss a range of issues highlighted by Vice President Harris in her remarks on Thursday, July 21, 2022, including public-private partnership, bolstering the U.S.-Africa economic relationship, access to capital, food insecurity, and promoting sustainable economic growth and development.
Vice President Harris then praised the U.S.-Africa Business Summit, organized by the Corporate Council on Africa, noting that this convening “is very important.” “When everyone is at the table, we are better able to collaborate, coordinate, and identify new opportunities,” the Vice President said. “So, I wish you a productive Summit in Marrakech. This work will benefit United States-African business ties and diplomatic ties. And most importantly, it will benefit both the people of Africa and the people of the United States.”
US Vice President Kamala Harris virtually addresses the U.S. – Africa Business Summit in Morocco
Will President George Weah Attend U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit?
Since his ascendancy as President of the Republic of Liberia in January 2018, Mr. George Weah has never officially paid a visit to the White House, the official seat of the United States of America federal government as one of America’s key ally on the African continent.
Though there has never been of any report where the White House or the previous administration of former President Donald Trump or current president Joe Biden has invited the Liberian leader.
But with this latest pronouncement by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for the U.S. – Africa Leaders’ Summit slated for December 2022 in Washington DC, it remains to be seen whether President Weah will travel to the United States to attend the planned Summit. According to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Summit demonstrates America’s enduring commitment to its African partners and to bolstering the economic relationship between the U.S. and the African continent.
Liberia – U.S. Relations under the Weah’s Administration
The United States established diplomatic relations with Liberia in 1864; 17 years after it declared independence from the American Colonization Society, an organization that resettled free African-Americans and freed slaves in Liberia. A 1980 coup ended the rule of the party that controlled the country from its independence in 1847. From 1989 to 2003, the country saw continued misrule, rebellion, and civil war.
Presidential elections held in 2005 and 2011 were declared free and fair by international observers. The last national presidential election was held on October 10, 2017. The free and fair elections resulted in the election of President George Weah.
Liberia is gradually recovered from the impact of the Ebola epidemic in 2014. Following the Ebola crisis, the United States continued to partner with government donors, international organizations especially the World Health Organization, and civil society to strengthen health systems in Liberia.
U.S. assistance and engagement is critical to Liberia’s long-term development. The Ebola epidemic and the concurrent global downturn in prices of Liberia’s principle exports in 2014 slowed economic growth, drained the government’s resources, and delayed development projects. The government was however in 2014 urged by the US government to continue to make progress in diversifying the economy, building and solidifying confidence in public governance, and fostering tangible improvements in the lives of average Liberians.
U.S. Assistance to Liberia
U.S. assistance is focused on consolidating democratic progress; improving capacity, transparency, and accountability of governance institutions; promoting broad-based, market-driven economic growth; improving access to high-quality educational and health services; and professionalizing Liberia’s military and civilian security forces, while helping Liberia build capacity to plan, implement, and sustain its own development efforts in each sector.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Liberia is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The country’s revenues come primarily from rubber and iron ore exports, and revenues from its maritime registry program. Liberia’s U.S.-owned and -operated shipping and corporate registry is the world’s second-largest. U.S. exports to Liberia include agricultural products (with rice as the leading category), vehicles, machinery, optic and medical instruments, and textiles. The main imports from Liberia to the United States are rubber and allied products; other imports include wood, art and antiques, palm oil, and diamonds. The United States and Liberia have signed a trade and investment framework agreement.
Liberia’s Membership in International Organizations
Liberia and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Liberia acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2016.
Bilateral Representation
Liberia maintains an Embassy in the United States at 5201 16th Street, NW, Washington DC, 202-723-0437. The US government also has its diplomatic mission in Liberia, stationed in Monrovia.
U.S. – Africa Leaders’ Summit Good Platform for President Weah to Strengthen Ties with Washington
With such historical ties between Liberia and the United States of America, and current President George Weah is yet to visit the White House in his fifth year as President of Liberia, the pending U.S. – Africa Leaders’ Summit slated for December 2022 could be a good platform for the Liberian leader to visit Washington and hold discussions with Liberia’s number one ally.
The ball is in President Weah’s court as he has five calendar months to decide whether he will attend the December 2022 U.S. – Africa Leadership Summit, which US Vice President Kamala Harris describes as a: “Summit demonstrates America’s enduring commitment to its African partners and to bolstering the economic relationship between the U.S. and the African continent.”
