Kamala Harris Pulls Together Africa Team To Advise On Africa-US Policy

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By Semafor Africa

Photos: US Embassy Tanzania\YouTube Screenshots

The Kamala Harris campaign has assembled a 25-strong team to devise a comprehensive US-Africa policy if she wins the White House next month.

The team, which includes diplomats, ex-government officials, development finance experts, and diaspora leaders among others, is overseen by former US attorney general Eric Holder, a close Harris campaign adviser. Former assistant secretary of state for African affairs Witney Schneidman and Gabrielle Posner, the Africa lead at Washington DC firm Stonebridge Albright, are coordinating the effort, according to two people familiar with the plans.

People close to the Harris-Walz campaign say US-Africa policy, which is usually low down on US foreign policy priorities, “will get a lot more attention under Harris” if they win the White House and build on the Biden Administration’s attempts to upgrade the status of US-Africa policy.

Judd Devermont, the former White House Africa director who reworked US-Africa policy for Biden at the start of his presidency, told Semafor Africa that a future Harris presidency should build on his former boss’ strategy, by “directing more resources and high-level time and attention to seize on opportunities and respond to the most difficult challenges.”

Democrats want to lock in the Africa summit on the White House calendar. →