Reactions have followed the recent announcement of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 US elections alongside his vice-presidential aspirant, Kamala Harris. A lot of responses have followed Joe Biden’s win, and it is not out of place for even African leaders to hope that Biden’s victory will strengthen the ties between the continent and the US.
There is a famous saying that when the US sneezes, the world catches a cold. The foreign policies of the US, trade agreements and aids to Africa has a huge impact on the continent’s trade and wellbeing. While it is public knowledge how some African Countries has fared under the Trump administration, it is now so crucial to African leaders how the policies of the Biden’s administration which will be sworn into power on the 20th of January, 2020 has to offer to African countries and the continent at large.
Here the reactions of some African leaders following the victory of Joe Biden:
Here is Cyril Ramaphosa’s (the President of South Africa) message to the President-elect on his Twitter handle: “We congratulate the President-elect @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris and the American People on your election. We look forward to working with you and deepening our bonds of friendship and cooperation.”
The Chairman of the African Union Commission also took to his Twitter handle to congratulate the President-elect: “Congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris, president-elect and vice president-elect of the United States of America. The @_AfricaUnion Commission looked forward to a new, stronger USA-Africa relationship based on mutual respect and shared values of international cooperation”.
The President of Nigeria, Muhammdu Buhari also lent his voice to those of African leaders in congratulating the president-elect: “Congratulations to the US president-elect Joe Biden on his election at a time of uncertainty and fear in the world affairs. His election is a reminder that democracy is the best form of government because it offers the people the opportunity to change their government by peaceful means”.
Other presidents such as the president of Zimbabwe also sent out congratulatory messages to the president-elect.
