Kenya’s 2027 presidential hopeful Walter “Nyambane Mongare and former Head of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) are the Hot Seat News’ (HSN) primary guests in a discussion about the upcoming US-African leaders’ Summit.
Mongare is a former comedian with the famous group redykyulass, where he kept Kenyan in stitches while impersonating former President Daniel Arap Moi, whom was feared around the country. He served as the national youth director in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
Apart from her career in journalism, Madondo also serves a governance adviser and a business process analyst.
“I look forward to working with African governments, civil society, diaspora communities across the United States, and the private sector to continue strengthening our shared vision for the future of U.S.-Africa relations,” US President Joe Biden.
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US President Joe Biden has invited African leaders for the second US-Africa Summit scheduled to kick off on December 13-15. Kenya’s President William Ruto has confirmed he’s attending and will be one of the White House guests.
In the HSN Twitter Spaces discussion, Mong’are and Madondo are expected to take a critical look at the issues affecting the US-Africa relationship in the backdrop of China’s growing influence in the continent.
An African Union (AU) press release said the Summit would demonstrate the Biden administration’s commitment to Africa and aims at creating a partnership to promote trade and investment across Africa.
Barack Obama, the first black US President with roots in Kenya, hosted the first-ever US-Africa Summit from August 4 to 6, 2014, the largest gathering between African leaders and a US president. In his speech to the leaders, Obama praised African people for taking the lead in the continent’s development.
The 2014 Summit, themed “Investing in the Next Generation,” aimed at taping into the vast potential of the African youth population, the largest in the world.
Obama stretched a welcoming hand to the leaders, calling for their partnership.
“I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world – partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect,” Obama said.
Leaders from fifty African countries attended the 2014 summit.
President Donald Trump did not convene a US-Africa Summit and is on record as having insulted African Nations as shit-hole countries while the leaders met in Ethiopia.
“I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world – partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect,” Former US President Barack Obama.
Biden is expected to continue with Obama’s tradition and engage African youth leaders.
A notice posted in the Federal Register, the daily journal of the US government, welcomed the public to comment about US policies toward Africa and nominate African youth leaders to meet with Biden during the Summit.
“The US Department of State is seeking exceptional young leaders to participate in the event. Ideal participants will be Africans and people of African descent living outside of Africa who are between the ages of 21-35 and actively engaged on issues related to higher education, creative industries, or environmental equity,” the invitation said.
According to a US State Department Press release, this year’s Summit will follow similar themes as the 2014 event, putting Africa on a pedestal as the home of the world’s future.
“The Summit will demonstrate the United States’ enduring commitment to Africa and will underscore the importance of U.S.-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities,” the statement read.
Acknowledging Africa’s potential and in what can be viewed as an effort to box out China’s growing influence in Africa, the State Department expressed optimism about Africa.
“Africa will shape the future — not just the future of the African people, but of the world. Africa will make the difference in tackling the most urgent challenges and seizing the opportunities we all face,” the US State Department said.
The State Department listed the following areas of focus. The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit will build on our shared values to better:
- Foster new economic engagement
- Advance peace, security, and good governance
- Reinforce commitment to democracy, human rights, and civil society
- Work collaboratively to strengthen regional and global health security
- Promote food security
- Respond to the climate crisis
- Amplify diaspora ties
- Promote education and youth leadership
But critics are urging African leaders to seek tangible concessions from Biden.
Chairman of the Pan African Forum, Dr. David Matsanga, has called in the leaders to urge Biden to lift sanctions placed against Zimbabwe in 2001. The US placed sanctions against Zimbabwe to punish President Robert Mugabe’s regime on charges of corruption and human rights abuses, but they remain in force until today, despite Mugabe’s demise.
“African Presidents who will be traveling to the US should advocate for our sovereignty and push for exoneration of countries like Zimbabwe who has an obligation to trade and export its own minerals like diamonds, gold, and many others without seeking permission from the USA or any other country that is also government under the UN Charter,” Matsanga said, according to a KBC report. “It is anti-African for Zimbabwe to continue begging the USA on how to conduct their trade and banking affairs when nobody is sanctioning the same USA from imposing tariffs and embargoes on our brothers in Africa.”
About fifty African leaders, including Kenya’s President William Ruto, are expected to attend the Summit.
HSN publisher Maurice Ndole, former VOK broadcaster Rosemary Musumba, and Pastor Esmond Onsomu will host Madondo and Mongare during the discussion.
The Twitter Spaces interview will occur at 10 AM PST, 9 PM EAT – Kenya time. Click here to join.
President Biden has welcomed the African leaders.
“I look forward to working with African governments, civil society, diaspora communities across the United States, and the private sector to continue strengthening our shared vision for the future of U.S.-Africa relations,” Biden said.