President Biden is set to welcome Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife to the White House this month, marking the first official state visit by an African leader to the United States since 2008. This visit comes at a crucial time as the U.S. faces challenges in its relationships within the African continent.
Despite Biden's promise to visit Africa during his first term, such a visit has not materialized, leading to concerns about the U.S. losing influence in the region politically, diplomatically, and economically to global competitors like Russia and China. The recent coups in several nations across the Sahel region have further strained relations with Washington, with approximately 10 coups reported since 2020.
Currently, U.S. forces are being directed to withdraw from Niger, a country now under the control of a military junta that seized power last year. Niger was previously a significant regional partner for the United States, with U.S. troops collaborating with the country's ousted officials to combat terrorism.
