Seeking to cement relationships forged during his Africa trip last year, President Obama will invite the leaders of 47 African nations to the summit, to be held in Washington DC. The move is widely seen as a response to the economic progress of the continent in recent years, and the involvement of China in much of it. In recent years France, China and Japan have led the way in upgrading diplomatic and commercial links with African states.
Egypt, which is suspended from the African Union, will not be invited, neither will Zimbabwe, against whom the USA maintains sanctions. Madagascar and Sudan are likewise excluded. However the United States Embassy in Kenya has expressed the hope that President Uhuru Kenyatta will accept his invitation despite his impending trial at the International Criminal Court on charges related to violence after an election in 2007 that left 1,000 people dead. US Ambassador Robert Godec said the summit will enhance Africa’s relationship with the US and specifically Kenya. “The United States is committed to its partnership with Kenya; we have done so many things together, in security, in education and so many other areas in the last 50 years and that commitment has not changed.”
A White House statement said: "President Obama looks forward to welcoming leaders from across the African continent to the nation’s capital to further strengthen ties with one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing regions. The summit will build on the progress made since the president’s trip to Africa last summer, advance the administration’s focus on trade and investment in Africa, and highlight America’s commitment to Africa’s security, its democratic development and people."
