President Joe Biden this week will host heads of state for the second U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit, eight years after the first, convened under the Obama administration
at African nations and cozying up to his ”favorite dictators.” So, while this high-level gathering is a welcome resumption, it is telling to see who will be arriving this week, longevity in office being something of a red flag. To be sure, there have been notable democratic turnovers since the last summit: In the Gambia in 2016 and Zambia in 2021, citizens bravely stood up to and voted out their autocratic leaders.
But many retrograde African leaders– including 10 who attended in 2014—will soon touch down in Washington, walk the red carpet at the White House, and smile for photographs that will assuredly be used for propaganda purposes back home. Awith the American president, after all, will signal to repressed citizens abroad that their pro-democracy efforts are futile. It sends the unequivocal message that no matter how hard they agitate or persevere, the U.S.
Perhaps no African leader plays this game of image management better than Paul Kagame of Rwanda, effectively in power since 2000—longer than the average Rwandan citizen has been alive. Kagame is among the 20 percent of African heads of state who will make a repeat appearance at this week’s summit,as an opportunity to identify “shared values.
U.S. Rwanda President Paul Kagame speaks during a panel at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum on August 5, 2014 in Washington, D.C.of his political opponents, “Many of them tend to die.” So, too, has any façade of democracy in Rwanda.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cycling South Africa suspends Zwift racer caught hacking data during world championships qualifierIn a statement Cycling South Africa said it has a 'zero tolerance policy to any form of cheating' and has begun its own disciplinary process, which will include 'engagement' with the UCI cycling
Read more »
From India to Saudi Arabia - the countries the UK wants to forge closer ties with, and whyForeign Secretary James Cleverly has vowed to forge new partnership’s beyond the UK’s traditional allies Here are the countries the UK wants to forge closer ties with, and why 🔎 Explained by emsferg
Read more »
The party of Nelson Mandela is implodingThe collateral damage is destroying South Africa
Read more »
Government Funding Fight Could Drag On Until After Christmas'Congressional appropriators are still trading ideas with days left to finalize a deal,' writes Philip_Elliott for The D.C. Brief
Read more »
NH Hiker Who Died After Falling Off Mountain While Taking Photos IdentifiedJUST IN: Authorities have provided more details about the man who died while taking photos on the summit of a NH mountain this weekend.
Read more »
New 'brutal' 20% monster climb rumoured for next year's Vuelta a EspañaRace director Javier Guillén has promised a 'spectacular' and 'very mountainous' route, with summit finishes atop the Angliru and Tourmalet also touted
Read more »