US President, Joe Biden is to announce the establishment of an advisory council on engagement with the African diaspora in the United States, as Washington seeks to deepen ties with the region through a summit this week.
Dana Banks, special assistant to the president and special adviser for the US-Africa Leaders Summit, said Mr Biden will sign an executive order to establish the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the US on Tuesday. The Council will, according to her, advise the president on “a range of issues”.
A Reuters report says the move will come on the first day of the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, during which Mr Biden will meet leaders of African countries.
An African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum is set to take place on Tuesday as part of the summit.
Ms Banks added that “African voices are essential to solving global problems. To elevate these voices, one of our primary focuses is to widen our circle of engagement to include African Diaspora communities”.
It was not immediately clear who would be on the council but Ms Banks said it would be made up of “diverse representatives” from African-American and African immigrant communities who have “distinguished themselves in government, business, social work, sports and other areas”.
President Biden is also expected to announce, during the summit, support for the African Union joining the G20 group of the world’s largest economies as a permanent member.
The summit comes after the US released a new strategy document for Sub-Saharan Africa in August.
Writing by Tersoo Nicholas; Editing by Tony Okerafor