On August 4, President Obama will welcome leaders from across the African continent to Washington, D.C. for a U.S.-Africa summit. The intercontinental meeting will run until the 6th and will feature a series of events that highlight America’s commitment to trade with new African democracies.

The summit will feature a theme of investment in the next generation.

Obama invited all heads of states in good standing with the United States. Egypt was extended a late invitation. An invitation was also extended to the African Union Chairperson, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

The summit will begin on Monday with five Signature Events:

Civil Society Forum Signature Event:
The Civil Society Forum is to be hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry and will unite governmental leaders from the U.S. and all over Africa, as well as members of respective civil societies. The event will be split into three separate sections: an intercontinental dialogue, a keynote address and a Global Town Hall, which Kerry himself will moderate.

Investing in Women, Peace and Prosperity:
The Investing in Women, Peace and Prosperity event will highlight current women in African leadership roles, and discuss ways to ensure that future generations can continue this legacy.

Investing in Health: Investing in Africa’s Future:
This signature event will unite government officials from both continents, as well as Ministers of Health and senior health policy makers to envision a future of interrelated U.S. and African health policies.

Resilience and Food Security in a Changing Climate:
U.S. and African leaders will focus on food security and climate change. They will discuss ways in which poorer African countries can negate the impact of the global climate crisis.

Combating Wildlife Trafficking:
This signature event will unite leaders and see them strategize ways in which they can involve the youth in curbing poaching.

Day two will have the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Bloomberg Philanthropies co-host a U.S.-African Business forum. The purpose of the forum is to strengthen financial ties between the continents. As the name suggests, it places a special importance on engaging the American private sector with the African private sector.

On the final day, President Obama will meet with a number of African leaders in events all aimed at attracting youth to African politics.

– Andrew John

Sources: Star Africa, Brookings, Whitehouse
Photo: AlJazeera