In light of the upcoming elections in seven African countries, US Vice President Joe Biden has encouraged African leaders to take all necessary steps to ensure transparent, free, and fair elections through 2023.
In a private meeting on Wednesday at the White House, Biden urged the leaders of Nigeria, Liberia, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Sierra Leone to ensure that the elections are honest as their nations prepare for general elections in 2023.
“I want to be clear that having a meeting about elections in 2023 is not about us raising the alarm bell or claiming we’ve got concerns and then solutions,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said after the meeting which was held on the sideline of the US-African Leaders Summit.
“It’s rather to say: There are important elections coming up, we would like to do everything we can to support those elections being free, fair and credible,” he added.
Also on Wednesday, Biden who spoke at the US-Africa Business Forum, said the US is committed to strengthening democracy on the African continent and vowed to work closely with African nations on a range of issues from climate, food security, and public health.
“Africa’s economic transition depends on good government, healthy populations and reliable and affordable energy,” Biden said.
“The United States is committed to supporting every aspect, every aspect of Africa’s inclusive growth and creating the best possible environment for sustained commercial engagement between African companies and American companies. The United States is all in on Africa’s future.”
