World Politics Review published on 8 February 2023 a commentary titled "To Compete with China the U.S. Must Take Africans Seriously" by Chris Olaoluwa Ogunmodede.
The author argues that "African leaders remain wary of grand pledges and empty rhetoric unmatched by concrete follow-through, as well as the arrogant paternalism that typically characterizes Washington's engagement with these countries." But the author adds that China is no less prone than the United States to making mistakes in its interaction with Africans. Nevertheless, Beijing's core arguments resonate better by default.
Japan's model of cooperation with Africans may be the best one to emulate. Washington could start by being a better listener with its African interlocutors.
