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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US Africa Summit Wrap Day 1 (TV)
HEADLINE: US-Africa Leaders Summit Kicks Off in Nation’s Capital
TEASER: A range of topics are on the table, including climate adaptation and energy transition, peace, security and governance
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Mariama Diallo
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Holly Franko, Tom Turco, DJ OK
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, Reuters & AP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[The U.S.-Africa summit kicked off Tuesday in the nation’s capital with a full agenda. Topics ranged from climate adaptation and energy transition to peace, security and governance. A special forum highlighted African youth and the role of the diaspora. VOA’s Mariama Diallo attended the summit and has this report.]]
((NARRATOR)) ((planes landing and delegations arriving)) ((Reuters))
The nearly 50 leaders invited by President Joe Biden — presidents to prime ministers to ministers of foreign affairs and the head of the African Union — arrived earlier this week. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris began the summit by attending the African and diaspora young leaders forum.
((Kamala Harris, US Vice President)) ((MRT 13:33:33))
“I strongly believe that the creativity and ingenuity of Africa’s young leaders will help us shape the future of the world. And that their ideas, your ideas, innovations and initiatives will benefit the entire world. The Biden-Harris administration intends to be right there alongside you, these young leaders knowing that it’s the spark, determination of young people that will drive and move us forward.
((NARRATOR)) ((AP))
The vice president announced the administration would invest an additional $100 million to expand the Young African Leaders Initiative and the U.S. Export-Import Bank was entering new memorandums of understanding that will clear the way for $1 billion in new commercial financing in Africa.
((stills taken by me or using AP video))
Later, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was joined by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Agency for International Development’s Samantha Power in one of the forums to discuss peace, governance and security with the presidents of Niger, Mozambique and Somalia, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission.
((Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State)) ((AP)
"There's no one model for how to build strong institutions. I think we have to be informed by each other. We have to be informed by local conditions, local needs, and from the perspective of the United States, this is also not about a competition with others. This is not about saying to our friends and partners, you have to choose. This is about offering a genuine choice, offering a genuine partnership, and hopefully together building a race to the top, not a race to the bottom."
((Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense))
"We want to understand what's really important to you. And going further, we want to make sure that we are doing the things to develop and empower your security forces and help you work on your security architecture in ways that you think benefit you, and that certainly will promote regional stability."
((NARRATOR))
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the African Union Commission chairperson, said the U.S. is providing support to countries like Niger, Mozambique, Somalia and Chad. But he also noted that African armies are still underequipped.
((Moussa Faki Mahamat, African Union Commission Chairperson))
"No one is listening to the cries of Africa when it comes to the extension of this scourge."
((Mohamed Bazoum, Republic of Niger President, (in French but with English translator speaking))
"We have considered that to face this scourge, we need to combine various actions. The first one is to promote, in spite of everything, and precisely for those reasons, because we have a challenge in front of us, is to promote democracy, to promote the rule of law, to promote the respect of human rights."
((NARRATOR))
Day 2 of the summit Wednesday on U.S.-Africa business will focus on advancing two-way trade and investment partnerships that bolster Africa’s role in the global economy and drive advancements in key sectors.
((Mariama Diallo, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateDecember 14, 2022 00:06 EST
BylineMariama Diallo
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
