US Africa Policy: New Priorities under President Biden?

The new US president Joe Biden has promised a fundamental change in American foreign policy after the Trump years. Biden’s presidency is therefore also associated with considerable expectations on the African continent. Whether the new US administration can actually fulfill these hopes could be determined by five key issues: Cooperation in strengthening democracy, conflict resolution, the fight against climate change, efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic cooperation.

The event will highlight the initial changes in US Africa policy, the expectations of African countries, and the potential for cooperation between Africa, the United States, and Europe. What new impulses are emanating from the Biden administration? How do the interests and approaches of Africa, the US and the EU converge? And which conflicts will the US primarily turn its attention to?

These and other questions are the focus of this online discussion, to which the German Africa Foundation and the GIGA cordially invite you.

Welcome Remarks: Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau is Director of the GIGA Institute for African Affairs

Speakers: Ambassador Robert Dölger is Regional Commissioner for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Federal Foreign Office.

Dr. Paul-Simon Handy is Senior Regional Adviser at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.

Elizabeth Shackelford is Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Dr. Christian von Soest is Lead Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute for African Affairs and Head of the GIGA Research Area "Peace and Security"

Moderation: David Schwake is Secretary-General at the German Africa Foundation

Please register until 13 June 2021. You will receive the participation link the day before the event.

Please note that the event will be recorded.