BY PETER SESAY

(With the contribution of Jibril Ture)

Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to start a week-long visit to three African countries in a little over a week from today, as yet another sign of the Biden administration’s pledge to build strong relations with a continent where U.S. biggest rival, China, boasts strong partners.

Harris will be in Ghana from March 26 to 29; in Tanzania from March 29 to 31, and finally in Zambia on March 31 and April 1. In a statement to the press, the vice president’s spokesperson, Kirsten Allen, writes:

“Throughout the trip, in partnership with African governments and the private sector, the Vice President will advance efforts to expand access to the digital economy, support climate adaptation and resilience, and strengthen business ties and investment, including through innovation, entrepreneurship, and the economic empowerment of women.”

The first visit to Africa by the first black vice president in U.S. history is unquestionably a historic one. It’s also a big diplomatic maneuver to put in action the commitment President Biden made during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in December 2022 to “strengthen ties with Africa based on principles of mutual respect and shared interests and values.”

Harris will be the fifth high-level American to travel to the continent in the past six weeks. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen embarked on a 10-day travel to Africa starting on January 14, visiting Senegal, Zambia and South Africa. Then followed U.S. representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who traveled to Ghana, Mozambique, and Kenya January 25-29. Walking in their steps, the first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, traveled to Namibia and Kenya in late February, just before Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, embarked on a trip to three African nations today, March 14. The secretary, who frequently visits all regions of Africa, is currently traveling to Ethiopia and Niger.

The vice president’s spokesperson, Kirsten Allen, also says that the vice president’s visit will focus on promoting democracy, climate adaptation, women’s economic empowerment, and food security. These are part of the issues Harris raised during her meeting with South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, whom she hosted for breakfast last September prior to the South African leader’s meeting with President Biden in the afternoon at the White House.

Harris was obviously a key player during the mid-December U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Framing U.S.-Africa relations as a mutually-beneficial partnership, she stated, in remarks before a group of young African leaders who had their own, special session during the summit: “Our administration will be guided not by what we can do for Africa but what we can do with Africa.”

The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit—started in 2014 by then-President Obama—and the ongoing diplomatic ballet of U.S. officials in Africa are seen by international observers as elements of U.S./China competition in Africa. While the administration does not flatly deny it, the officials say the U.S. “affirmative agenda” for Africa is not dominated by that.