US-Africa Leaders Summit : Discussions Open In Washington DC

Issues earmarked for the second U.S.-Africa Leader’s Summit will official begin today 13 December, 2022 in Washington, D.C under the auspices of the President of the United States, Joseph Biden. The first such event took place still in Washington, D.C. from 5-6 August, 2014 at the behest of former President Barack Obama.
Like during the pioneer Summit, President Paul Biya and wife, Chantal are in the United States for the event alongside other African leaders. The Head of State who arrived in Washington, D.C. on 10 December with a strong delegation of ten cabinet Ministers is expected to make the voice of Cameroon heard by playing a key role in the various topics scheduled for the summit. 
In 2014, it was about recalling the fact that; “A new Africa is emerging” and that it is an Africa that: “Will help shape the world as never before.” A position which Cameroon already pointed out at the “Africa 21 International Conference” summoned in Yaounde by President Paul Biya from 18-19 May 2010 as part of commemorative activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the independence of Cameroon. Officials in the United States have qualified the current Summit as a demonstration of America’s ‘enduring commitment to Africa’ and also an effort to “underscore the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities.”
In that light, concerns over climate change, security, especially growing extremism and terrorism as well as trade are top on the agenda. Apart from the keynote statement by the host President, Biden and other Heads of State taking the floor to make positions of their governments known, investors, civil society activists are also expected to articulate their views during this summit.
The programme of today’s opening activities will include the holding of panel discussions on: Partnering for Sustainable Health Cooperation and Health Security; US-Africa Civil and Commercial Space Forum, among others. United States officials say that President Biden sees the summit as a collaborative platform with African leaders as well as the civil society, business, diaspora, and youth leaders in tackling...