Us Ambassador Denies Scramble For Africa
The US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield has told the BBC’s Newsday radio programme that her country does not see its recent engagement with the continent as a “scramble for Africa” since the US has been on the continent for many decades.
She added that the US was not telling African countries who they should be friends with.
It comes after US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, visited Africa and weeks after President Joe Biden hosted a summit in Washington for Africa leaders. Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, and his Chinese counterpart have also visited several African countries this month. Like Ms Yellen, Ms Thomas-Greenfield has just completed a tour of Africa.
African countries like South Africa have recently faced criticism for close relations with the likes of Russia, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Ms Thomas-Greenfield also warned against the use of Russian mercenary group, Wagner, in Africa, describing it as a criminal organisation.
Wagner has been linked to African countries that are currently facing a surge of militant Islamists, such as in Mali, Mozambique and other nations.
