United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was on a three country tour in Africa the week of August eight, telling African officials that the U.S. will not “dictate” African policy, but there are indications that the opposite is true. While on his tour, Blinken said, “too often, African nations have been treated as instruments of other nations’ progress, rather than the authors of their own. Time and again, they have been told to pick a side in great power contests that feel far removed from daily struggles of their people. The United States will not dictate Africa’s choices.”
However, U.S. Congressional bill HR7311 which quietly passed the house earlier this year appears to do just that. The sanctions bill titled, “Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act” targets African nations and the African diaspora who “manipulate African governments and their policies, as well as the public opinions and voting preferences of African populations and diaspora groups, including those in the United States.”
While sitting next to Secretary Blinken on tour, South Africa’s International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor addressed the bill. She called HR7311 “offensive”, saying “the recent legislation passed in the United States of America by the House of Representatives, we found a most unfortunate bill that we had hoped the media would say more about because when we believe in freedom, it’s freedom for everybody. You can’t say because Africa is doing this, you will then be punished by the United States. That’s been a disappointing passage of legislation by one house and we hope that the other house will not agree to such offensive legislation.” The bill has now moved to the Senate.
Blinken’s Africa tour comes less than two weeks after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was on the continent telling African countries that they have their right to their sovereignty. Journalist Hermela Aregawi speaks to Didier Gondola, Professor of African History at Johns Hopkins University and Professor Teylama Miabey, President of the National Congress For Democracy about the House bill in question and the problems with U.S. foreign policy on Africa.
