Kamala Harris as she arrives in Zambia during her recent tour in Africa – Photo: AP Photo/ Salim Dawood

US Vice President Kamala Harris’ nine-day tour of Africa wraps up today in Zambia. During her three-day visit to Zambia, she announced the Biden Administration’s commitment to supporting the country’s economic development, climate adaptation, and democratic resilience. In Ghana and Tanzania, Harris strengthened ties on trade, cybersecurity, and food security.

Harris is the eighteenth—and most senior—US official to visit Africa this year, following Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. These trips come as the Biden Administration attempts to reverse the four years of underinvestment in the region under the Trump Administration. This lack of attention gave Russia and China an opportunity to fill the void, particularly across trade and security.

Expect Africa to remain a contest for great power competition over the coming years. For Beijing and Moscow, the region will remain an important arena for shoring up diplomatic support for their long-term geopolitical and geoeconomic interests. Amid this backdrop, expect the Biden Administration to counter their power projection through greater public and private sector development projects toward low and middle-income countries. It is likely that forward-looking projects will seek to contribute to their digital economic revolution and green energy transition with partnerships with local entrepreneurs.