Publish date30 Jun 2013 - 11:03
Story Code : 134376

US China in a neck and neck competition for the black continent

By: Mahnaz Khoushabi
US President Barack Obama and his family, heading a delegation of 500 owners of American companies, have started a one-week trip to three African countries. In this trip they will visit Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.
US China in a neck and neck competition for the black continent
All three hosting countries are said to be chosen meticulously each one carrying a particular message.

Senegal is one of the biggest markets in Africa and the US relies on the country as a secure shelter in a fragile region. Stability, permanent government and commitment to law in this country turn Senegal to a successful example among many other countries with complicated problems.

Senegal is the only state in western Africa that has not experienced a coup d'etat. Besides regarding the infrastructure, the US embassy stands as one of the most important embassies in this African country. This symbolic presence is translated as enthusiasm of Washington to boost its ties with Dakar.

On the other hand, South Africa is one of the most important economic partners of the US while Tanzania is looking for absorbing more investments by the US and is struggling to compensate its economic shortcomings through investments by Washington.

US attraction to Tanzania seems to be in competition with China because the Asian country also seems to pursue expansion of commercial ties with Dakar.

Besides the ties between the US and Africa, the trip seems to be an effort to counter balance influence of China in the black continent. New Chinese President in his maiden trip to Africa chose Tanzania and South Africa as his destinations. China, after the first trip by the US President to Africa, has substituted the US as the first business partner of African continent.

Obama in this visit is trying to show his country’s growing enthusiasm to stand number one partner for African countries. Obama, besides American businessmen, is trying to confront the increasing influence of China in Africa since the Asian capital has made the most important economic partner for Africa since 2009.

Chinese President made a trip to Tanzania and South Africa during his maiden tour to 18 African countries back in March. 

According to experts, Africa Continent has turned into a field for Sino-American competitions.

The US seems to be making up for the killed time; therefore, a delegation of 500 investors and company owners are accompanying US President in this trip. Obama, due to the economic crisis and uprisings in some Arab countries, did not pay enough attention to African countries during his first presidency term.

Obama’s father is originally from Kenya and some of his kinsmen are still living in this country. In spite of his family ties, he spent only one day, during his first term of presidency in Kenya specifying the majority of his time and attention to boost US ties with Asia and Latin America. 

In comparison with Bush adminstration, the presidency of Obama shows a decrease in US aids for the black continent. US aid for Africa during George Bush was four times more than that during Obama.

Only in 2002, US made an amount of almost two billion dollars aid to Africa. The amount was greatly increased through an emergency plan by Bush. Up to 2009, when Obama took power, US aid for Africa was announced to be about $ 8.5 billion. The amount, decreased during Obama presidency to the point that according to a survey made in 2012 US contributed only more than seven billion dollar aid to Africa.

Decreasing the aids and opening the ways for China to make the major commercial partner for Africa drew sharp criticisms for Obama government policies in regards to Africa. In fact the recent trip made by the US President is in reaction to these criticisms.

Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communication for US, has warned countries like China, Turkey and Brazil have made wide investments in Africa and the US, due to lack of extended ties with Africa, is doomed to lose its global leadership.

Noting that Africa is in need of business and economic growth rather than alms, US deputy national security, has proposed a new framework for US ties with the black continent which shows the intentions of Obama for a neck and neck competition with China in the region.

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