PR experts optimistic of improved U.S-Africa Relations under Biden presidency
By Kasim Bakare
That Joe Biden won the most keenly contested presidential election in the history of the United States is no longer news. Amid the controversy around the election, the fate of Biden seems to have been sealed following recent Electoral College affirmation and the Supreme Court verdict rejecting Trump’s claim of electoral malfeasance. The former Vice President who had lost the battle to the white house on two previous occasions polled 306 electoral college votes to defeat his rival, Donald Trump, the incumbent president, who polled 232 electoral college votes.
In the build-up to the 2020 U.S presidential election, there were several concerns about how the incumbent president handled Covid-19, George Floyd/ Black lives Matter protests, America’s foreign policy and several other issues that evoked global interests.
Expectedly, the whole world waited with bated breath to watch the proceedings and outcome of the 2020 U.S presidential election, for as the saying goes, when America sneezes, the whole world catches cold. It was indeed a close race and the nail-biting moment that followed made everyone uneasy as the world awaited the winner of the election Even though the polls leading to the presidential elections did not exactly hit the bull’s eye, a lot of observers were nonetheless surprised that the election was not a land slide victory for Joe Biden. The result showed how divided the most powerful country in the world had become. Indeed, many observers opined that the election was a defining moment for the U. S as the world superpower struggled to unite a nation sharply divided along various lines. On the foreign scene, the U. S was fast losing its prominence as it had lost several battles to its political and economic rivals like Russia, China and Iran. The image of the most powerful country had been badly battered no thanks to the public gaffes of Donald Trump.
Over the years, U.S. policies and programs toward Africa have been positive and impactful overall. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) under President Bill Clinton boosted trade between the U.S. and Africa, and created thousands of jobs in Africa as well as in the United States. There were other programs and policies like the Malaria Initiative that has benefited almost 500 million people and caused a significant decline in malaria cases in Africa and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) which has reduced the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the continent. The Young African Leaders Initiative ( YALI),an intiative of President Barack Obama-led administration has trained about 4,000 of the next generation of African leaders, and created a vast network that facilitates ties among these future leaders and the United States. In this way, the U.S has supported cultural and educational exchange for Africa’s youth as well as for young Americans to enhance their understanding of the continent.
However, things took a different turn under a Donald Trump presidency as the “America First” mantra became the centre piece of the U.S under Trump’s watch. Significantly, many countries and organization were at the receiving end of Trump’s “America First’ policy. For instance, Trump decided to pull America out of the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the height of a global pandemic claiming the global health agency did not take precautionary measure against the pandemic. He also pulled America out of the Paris Agreement, a global response to the threat posed by climate change. Immigration policies which gave naturalized citizens and permanent residents to bring in family members to the United States were cancelled(Many African-Americans and African immigrants benefited from this policy). In fact, relationship between Trump and African-American community had reached an all-time low during the build-up to the election. Biden benefited from this as he got significant vote from the African-Americans during the election. This much he alluded to when he was declared the winner of the election. Quite significantly, one of the first nominations of Biden after his victory was Wally Ademola, an African American of Nigerian descent as deputy Secretary of treasury. He also nominated Lloyd Austin, an African-American as the secretary of defence.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 47th president of the U.S on 20th January, 2021. There are many expectations of Africans in the diaspora and at home from a Biden presidency. What shape will the policy framework of Joe Biden take as regards U.S-Africa Relations? Will Africa enjoy a robust relationship under the next occupant of the white house?.
Bolaji Okusaga, MD, Precise, a leading PR outfit, lends his two cents: ”There is no gainsaying the fact that what happened in the US on November 03, 2020, for which there is currently a huge contention and controversy around the need for a concession by Donald Trump following the calling of the polls for Joe Biden, offers a new beginning for America’s foreign policy. For one, Donald Trump’s America First policy has alienated a lot of the allies of the United States in NATO and other key regions of the world given his indifference to Russia’s incursions in Crimea, Syria, and a host of other places with very little efforts by NATO in stemming Russia’s newfound power in the face of the United States non-interest in pursuing an engagement using NATO as a platform.
Secondly, Donald Trump’s opposition to the Paris Accord as well as the Nuclear deal with Iran has left western allies like France and Germany in limbo and has created a big gulf between America’s European allies. With Joe Biden, things are certain to change as we are likely to see a comeback of close-cooperation between America, NATO, the European Union, and other traditional partners of America hitherto alienated by Trump’s America First Policy.
On the implication of a Biden presidency on US-Africa relations, Okusaga said: “Given the Liberal position on Human Rights which the Democratic Party in America usually upholds, we are likely to see a ramping up of engagement with Nigeria on issues such as the proposed regulation of the Social Media and the End SARS protest as well as issues of Military high-handedness in the North-East. Aside from this, there will be a loosening of Visa restrictions and a focus on Trade and one of the beneficial areas will be the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) which was enacted under the Clinton Administration. Here, the Biden administration will try to recover lost grounds in the United States engagement with Africa which has seen China take the prime position in terms of trade with Africa. By and large, the Biden Administration is certain to be friendlier with Nigeria and Africa”.
Corroborating Okusaga’s position, PR Expert, Boye Adefila, believes the Biden presidency will usher a new era of rebranding for a battered U.S image. Hear him: “Image, like reputation, is in the eye of the beholder, for a brand is the sum-total of its perceptions in the eyes of its core publics. Given this definition, the US image would take a new turn from the perspective of the Democrats, even without Bidden lifting a finger. This would be seen as a turn for the better, as international hostilities would simmer till Joe acts contrary to election promises, if he does.
By extension, all guns drawn to fire at the United States would be holstered in the interim, be they economic, political or military guns.
He continued:”On the other hand, the image of the US, from the point of view of die-hard Republicans, or rather, all who voted for Trump, would also take a new turn, in their view, a turn for the worse. However, from the African point-of-view, as international observers and recipients of foreign aid, morally, financially and otherwise, I expect a slight u-turn for the better, for, during Donald Trump’s regime, most foreign aid institutions like UNICEF, UNESCO, US AID, etc, were shadows of themselves”.
Also commenting on the issue, MD/CEO Neo-Media, Ehi Braimah believes Biden’s foreign policies will be liberal considering his overwhelming victory: “It is evident Biden wants to heal a divided country and reset the working relationships and partnerships with US allies. Messages have come from Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, France and Nigeria. Surprise, surprise, Israel has also sent in a congratulatory message but China is side stepping Biden’s victory, at least for now. Expectedly, Russia, Brazil and Turkey are quiet over the result of the election. Biden says he will be the president of the United States of America, not blue or red states and I believe him.
He continued: “Biden has hit the ground running even without statutory funding for the transition programme and he is forging ahead with his team as he lays the ground work to assume office after inauguration in January. He is calm and confident that all would be well. He announced to the world recently that President Trump’s refusal to acknowledge him as President-elect and allow for a smooth transition of power is an embarrassment which will not help his legacy. Biden has not only set up 13-man coronavirus task force as part of his deliberate strategy to contain the raging pandemic in America, he is also keen to move ahead with the Affordable Care Act(Obama Care) which continues to defy all attempts by the Trump administration to set it aside”.
In spite of the personality of Donald Trump, America remains God’s gift to the world. It is a favourite destination for immigrants, tourists, business travellers and global conferences. As we look forward to a fresh start in America under a Biden presidency, the world expects to see social and racial justice and not systemic racism. When these things and many others take root, America may yet regain its lost glory as the shining star in the political firmament of a free and liberalized world.
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