The Foreign Service Journal, June 2023

26 JUNE 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The first day focused on the role of civil society and the African diaspora, with seven fora on topics ranging from a ministerial on the African Growth and Opportunity Act to cooperation on space, health security, peace and security, and climate adaptation and a just energy transition. The second day was devoted wholly to the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, focused on advancing two-way trade and investment. The third day was reserved for heads of state discussions, focused on the African Union’s Agenda 2063 document ( “The Africa We Want, ” the organization’s development goals for the 100th anniversary of its founding); greater cooperation with African partners in multilat- eral fora; and food security on the continent. Even more crucial than the discussion topics was who would speak and when. Ensuring all invited heads of state were able to engage meaningfully during one of the sessions over the three days, while also securing U.S. Cabinet officials and senior- level participation, became a true test of diplomatic negotiation skills. While there was no guarantee everyone would be pleased with the speaking schedule, we reached agreement on a roster that fostered robust discussions on shared priorities. In fact, the engagements extended beyond the confines of the summit sessions into a series of “partner events,” many of them substantive. The summit created an environment in which stakeholders congregated to take advantage of the presence of 50 delegations from Africa to participate in a full schedule of events and social engage- ments throughout the week, further advancing summit goals. Five heads of state were not invited: Either the African Union had suspended them because of recent military takeovers in their countries (Guinea, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso) or the U.S does not have full diplomatic relations (Eritrea). Delivering on Deliverables The clear message from our partners in planning the summit was that its success would be measured largely by the achieve- ment of tangible and significant deliverables. Along those lines, President Biden committed to work with Congress to invest $55 billion ADAMSCHULTZ/THEWHITEHOUSE President Joe Biden delivers closing remarks at the U.S.- Africa Business Forum on Dec. 14, 2022, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The engagements extended beyond the confines of the summit sessions into a series of “partner events,” many of them substantive. From left: White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, actor Idris Elba, Nigerian American actress Yvonne Orji, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield pose for a photo during the summit’s fireside chat at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, 2022. BENSOLOMON/U.S.DEPARTMENTOFSTATE