BY JIBRIL TURE

New York State Representative Gregory W. Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has introduced a piece of legislation requiring that the State Department holds a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit every four years. The event, first held in August 2014 by President Barack Obama, was replicated in 2022 by President Joe Biden, bringing to Washington heads of state and other high-level officials from 49 African nations.

“This legislation marks a pivotal step in making U.S.-Africa cooperation a sustainable and impactful pillar of U.S. foreign policy,” the press release announcing the piece of legislation says, adding: “Following the significant advances from the summits initiated by President Obama in 2014 and continued under President Biden in 2022, this bill institutionalizes the ALS so that future administrations are able to leverage these summits to strengthen America’s relationship with African countries.”

This legislation, which directs the Secretary of State to hold a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at least once every 4 years, also “urges the Secretary to hold city summits focused on subregional cooperation and establish an implementation office at the State Department to ensure that our collaborative efforts with the Continent translate into tangible outcomes that benefit Americans and Africans.”

After a review of the outcome of the Second U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit convened in December 2022 by the Biden-Harris Administration that resulted in the signing of 75 successful deals with African nations, the new piece of legislation says, “Our actions should continue to reflect a meaningful commitment to our African partners. This bill is about more than regular dialogue; it’s about meaningful action that forms mutual prosperity.”

To read the full text of the legislation, click here