2024 Carnegie Africa Forum

The 2024 Carnegie Africa Forum kicks off with welcome remarks from the Carnegie Africa program director and senior fellow, Dr. Zainab Usman, and framing remarks from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's president, Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar. 

The 2024 Carnegie Africa Forum kicks off with welcome remarks from the Carnegie Africa program director and senior fellow, Dr. Zainab Usman, and framing remarks from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's president, Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar. 

As the U.S.-Africa relationship evolves and African countries continue to distinguish themselves on the global stage, members of the African diplomatic corps are critical actors in representing their countries in a dynamic landscape.  

African ambassadors in Washington, DC, will examine the status of the U.S.-Africa relationship from their perspectives, the opportunities for increased engagement, and the power of regional and continental integration in shaping the future of Africa's global relations. 

As the U.S.-Africa relationship evolves and African countries continue to distinguish themselves on the global stage, members of the African diplomatic corps are critical actors in representing their countries in a dynamic landscape.  

African ambassadors in Washington, DC, will examine the status of the U.S.-Africa relationship from their perspectives, the opportunities for increased engagement, and the power of regional and continental integration in shaping the future of Africa's global relations. 

The race to net zero will affect the market for natural resources, financial flows, and clean energy technologies in Africa. All the while, African countries stand to be disproportionately impacted by climate change despite having contributed only a fraction of total carbon emissions. To achieve a just energy transition, new frameworks and narratives must be developed and advocated for. 

Climate policy thought leaders will convene to examine the role of Africa’s strategic minerals, hydrocarbons, and human and other natural resources in the race for net zero; the tension between the global push for a clean energy transition and the continent’s own industrialization goals; and how this renewed international scramble for Africa’s resources can be harnessed into opportunities for the continent. 

The race to net zero will affect the market for natural resources, financial flows, and clean energy technologies in Africa. All the while, African countries stand to be disproportionately impacted by climate change despite having contributed only a fraction of total carbon emissions. To achieve a just energy transition, new frameworks and narratives must be developed and advocated for. 

Climate policy thought leaders will convene to examine the role of Africa’s strategic minerals, hydrocarbons, and human and other natural resources in the race for net zero; the tension between the global push for a clean energy transition and the continent’s own industrialization goals; and how this renewed international scramble for Africa’s resources can be harnessed into opportunities for the continent. 

African advocacy for reforming the global financial architecture reflects the salience of voices on the continent in a changing system of global governance. The continent often features prominently in the calculus of the world’s major and middle powers’ efforts to recalibrate their foreign policies and international economic relations. 

Leading African entrepreneurs, advocates, and statesmen will take the stage to debate the various options for Africa’s international relations in this new era of geopolitical competition. 

African advocacy for reforming the global financial architecture reflects the salience of voices on the continent in a changing system of global governance. The continent often features prominently in the calculus of the world’s major and middle powers’ efforts to recalibrate their foreign policies and international economic relations. 

Leading African entrepreneurs, advocates, and statesmen will take the stage to debate the various options for Africa’s international relations in this new era of geopolitical competition. 

Master kora player Yacouba Sissoko will share his life through music. 

Master kora player Yacouba Sissoko will share his life through music. 

In the digital age, new technologies are constantly transforming industries, expanding civic spaces, and upending regulatory models. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is still nascent on the African continent, suggesting untapped potential that could accelerate Africa’s economic transformation agenda. 

Technology policy thought leaders will meet to unravel the opportunities and risks posed by AI to Africa’s development and the contributions of African nations to global AI norms, usage narratives, and standards-setting. 

In the digital age, new technologies are constantly transforming industries, expanding civic spaces, and upending regulatory models. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is still nascent on the African continent, suggesting untapped potential that could accelerate Africa’s economic transformation agenda. 

Technology policy thought leaders will meet to unravel the opportunities and risks posed by AI to Africa’s development and the contributions of African nations to global AI norms, usage narratives, and standards-setting. 

Almost seventy years since its creation, the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs has led the U.S.-Africa diplomatic effort through various eras. Today, as African nations integrate on the continent and develop new visions for themselves on the global stage, U.S. diplomacy must be retooled to meet the contemporary reality. Understanding the history of U.S. diplomatic relationships with Africa and adapting them for the future is vital to the goal of sustainable and mutually beneficial relations between the United States and African nations. 

Almost seventy years since its creation, the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs has led the U.S.-Africa diplomatic effort through various eras. Today, as African nations integrate on the continent and develop new visions for themselves on the global stage, U.S. diplomacy must be retooled to meet the contemporary reality. Understanding the history of U.S. diplomatic relationships with Africa and adapting them for the future is vital to the goal of sustainable and mutually beneficial relations between the United States and African nations. 

We end the 2024 Carnegie Africa Forum with a fireside chat with Jonathan Oppenheimer, Executive Chairman at Oppenheimer Generations. Dr. Zainab Usman will provide final remarks to close the day’s programming. 

We end the 2024 Carnegie Africa Forum with a fireside chat with Jonathan Oppenheimer, Executive Chairman at Oppenheimer Generations. Dr. Zainab Usman will provide final remarks to close the day’s programming.