Africa: a Biden presidency: this is what it means for Kenya and Africa

US President-elect Joe Biden has already offered to reverse some of the controversial decisions, on the global stage, made by the incumbent Donald Trump.

In his acceptance speech on Saturday night, Biden, who became the first presidential candidate in the United States to garner 74 million popular votes, said he will try to make his country the best example for the world.

“Tonight, the whole world is watching America. I believe that at our best, America is a beacon for the globe. And we lead not by the example of our power, but by the power of our example,” he said. said.

Biden, like Trump, promised to address local issues first, seeking to unite, reconcile and rebuild the US economy.

Yet the United States, for the past four years, has been mocked for belittling multilateralism, the kind of diplomacy that works through global bodies like the United Nations and its agencies.

The Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Agreement, the international treaty reached by countries including Kenya to progressively reduce hazardous emissions. With the United States being the largest emitter of pollutants, their support would have been crucial in helping poor countries like Kenya adopt greener technology.

Climate change

Biden’s campaign claimed to acknowledge that the biggest challenge facing the US and the world is climate change, something Trump has rejected, calling it a hoax.

“That’s why he (Biden) is outlining a bold plan – a clean energy revolution – to address this grave threat and lead the world in addressing the climate emergency,” Biden promised.

“As president, Biden will lead the world in addressing the climate emergency and lead by the power of example, ensuring the US achieves a 100% clean energy economy and zero net emissions by 2050.”

Trump has also left the World Health Organization.

As the largest donor to the WHO, the departure of the United States following a fall from the Covid-19 pandemic could limit the agency’s support to poorer countries.

On Saturday, Biden suggested he would return the country to both the Paris Agreement and the WHO, stop controversial visa policies for Muslim and African countries, and provide protection for the children of migrants born on American soil.

He spoke of the “battle to save our planet by putting climate change under control …” and the “battle to restore decency and defend democracy”.

Trump did not even believe in climate change, despite his own scientific community having proved it exists.

Imad Hamad, executive director of the American Human Rights Council, hopes Biden will help restore all principles of civil rights, both in the United States and around the world.

Democratic values

“We are optimistic that the country will once again put democratic values ​​and human rights at the center of its policies, nationally and internationally,” Hamad said in a statement on Saturday.

“Promises have been made and expectations have been set regarding the commitment to human rights and human dignity. We will be watching the new administration closely to make sure it delivers on these promises,” he said.

Trump withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council in 2018, calling the global body a “political bias sewer” in which member states often pledge to correct certain legal obstacles to human rights. Leaving the Council meant that Washington could not be rated or classified. But the US argued that the Council had included anyone with a history of questionable rights.

For Africa at least, a Joe Biden presidency may bring little, but some analysts hope there may be some “respect” for the continent.

According to analysts from the South African Institute for Security Studies, there may be a summit in Africa in Washington, for example, the last witness in 2014 during the Barack Obama administration.

Respect for Africa would mean, for example, dealing with the continent not as a region but as a place with 55 sovereign states.

“Another goal would be the negotiation of reciprocal free trade agreements with Africa, bilaterally or regionally. These would eventually replace the non-reciprocal African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which allows exports from eligible African countries to countries. United, duty and quota-free, “the institute said.

Follow the offers

A Biden presidency can be expected to follow the agreements reached in Trump’s early years. Trump had begun negotiations for a trade agreement with Kenya.

“President Trump does not appear to be too enthusiastic about Africa like his predecessors who had signature programs for Africa. However, he has carried on their initiatives such as PEPFAR under President George W. Bush and AGOA under President Clinton. , which formed the basis of the proposed foreign trade agreement between Kenya and the United States, ”Lydia Kimani, the liaison officer for the Society of Crop Agribusiness Advisors in Nairobi, told the nation.

Kenya will be thrilled that it has begun negotiating a trade deal with Washington just as the countryside is heating up. Given the precedence set when the United States negotiated with other partners on a trade deal, Kenya should expect security dividends to be included in the FTA, Kimani told the Nation.

Impact of the pandemic

But there may be a problem.

“It would be important to first understand the impact the pandemic has had on the business landscape in the country,” he said, referring to Kenya’s mostly informal, service-based economy.

“Therefore, the question arises, in light of these disparities, are Kenyan businesses ready for liberalized trade between sectors, some very sensitive such as agriculture which supports millions of Kenyans and their livelihoods? Do they have the ability to compete with American companies? “

In August 2018, Presidents Trump and Uhuru Kenyatta, at the White House, established the framework for bilateral strategic dialogue, elevating their bilateral relations to a “ strategic partnership ”. This meant that the focus had to be two-way, based on “shared values, mutual cooperation and a common vision for free, open and secure societies”, a message indicated at the time.

Trump’s predecessor had initiated or continued aid programs like PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Response to AIDs Relief initiated by George W. Bush), which supports HIV / AIDS patients in Africa and has pumped money for education and support. humanitarian in Africa.

Obama also initiated the Young Africa Leadership Initiative, intended to inculcate governance values ​​among young people.

Last year, the United States and Kenya signed an updated Joint Country Action Plan on Security Governance aimed at “strengthening bilateral cooperation in civilian security, governance and anti-corruption efforts,” according to a message. Department of State in May 2019.

This means that the United States continues to support Kenya’s refugee reception programs, as well as health care, education and security.