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Africa Leaders Summit

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III host a multi-lateral meeting with (left to right) President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, President Ismail Omar Guelleh and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia at the Africa Leaders Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., Dec. 13, 2022. "We thanked the presidents for hosting U.S. forces and their focus on countering violent extremist threats," said Austin after the meeting.

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Photo by: Chad McNeeley 

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Peace, Security & Governance Forum

The Africa Leaders Summit's Peace, Security and Governance Forum forum was hosted by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, and co-hosted by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Samantha Power, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, on Dec. 13, 2022.  Also central to the forum were Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum.

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Photo by: Scott Taetsch 

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Ambassador's Roundtable at the Africa Leaders Summit

Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command, and Amb. Andrew Young, deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement, attended the Africa Center for Strategic Studies-hosted Ambassador's Roundtable on Dec. 14, 2022, to highlight how military professionals are called to a higher ethical standard and given enormous trust and responsibility.

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Meeting With the President of Angola

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the President of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, during the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders' Summit. The leaders discussed the growing partnership between the United States and Angola, and Angola's peace and security leadership efforts in Africa.

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Ambassador's Roundtable at the Africa Leaders Summit

Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command, and Amb. Andrew Young, deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement, attended the Africa Center for Strategic Studies-hosted Ambassador's Roundtable on Dec. 14, 2022, to highlight how military professionals are called to a higher ethical standard and given enormous trust and responsibility.

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President Joe Biden is hosting leaders from across Africa in Washington, D.C., from Dec. 13-15, 2022, for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

The Summit demonstrates the U.S.’ enduring commitment to Africa, and underscores the importance of U.S.-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities. 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 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit builds on shared values to better:

1. Foster new economic engagement
2. Advance peace, security, and good governance
3. Reinforce commitment to democracy, human rights, and civil society
4. Work collaboratively to strengthen regional and global health security
5. Promote food security
6. Respond to the climate crisis
7. Amplify diaspora ties
8. Promote education and youth leadership

On Dec. 13, the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit kicked off with a focus on the vital role of civil society and the strength of our African diaspora communities in the United States. It featured a range of sessions on topics from trade and investment, to health and climate change, to peace, security, and governance, to space cooperation.

READ: Austin: listening to African partners critical to development of productive relationships 

WATCH: Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Angolan President João Lourenço

The second day of the summit focused on increasing two-way trade and investment at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum. CEOs and private sector leadership from over 300 American and African companies convened with the heads of delegation to catalyze investment in critical sectors, including health, infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, and digital.

President Biden closed the USABF with remarks. Later in the day, he hosted a small group of leaders at the White House for a discussion on upcoming presidential elections in 2023 and U.S. support for free, fair, and credible polls in Africa. He then hosted all 50 Heads of Delegation and their spouses for dinner at the White House.

Also on Dec. 14, Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command, and Amb. Andrew Young, deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement, attended the Africa Center for Strategic Studies-hosted Ambassador's Roundtable to highlight the importance of professional military education institutions and how military professionals are called to a higher ethical standard and given enormous trust and responsibility.

"International Military and Education Training goes beyond building partner-nation capacity. It builds connections, creates a sense of shared purpose and promotes transparency," Langley said. "IMET helps build militaries that are responsive to the needs of their societies. It ensures troops are technically and tactically proficient, and have leadership and ethical decision-making skills. This professional education stresses democratic values such adherence to the Law of Armed Conflict, as well as respect for the rule of law and civilian control of the military."

The third day of the Africa Leaders Summit was dedicated to high-level discussions among leaders, with President Biden opening the day with a session on partnering on Agenda 2063, the African Union’s strategic vision for the continent.

Later in the day U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander met with the Minister of Defence of Cabo Verde Janine Tatiana Santos Lélis to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation between the U.S. and Cabo Verde.

The President closed the day with a discussion on food security and food systems resilience, a critical issue for our African partners who have been disproportionately impacted by the rise in food and fertilizer prices and disruptions to global supply chains as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine.