During his three-day visit to Cameroon on April 20, 21, and 22, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard R. Verma, engaged with Cameroonian officials and civil society members. According to a report by the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé received by SBBC, "Deputy Secretary Verma discussed U.S. foreign aid as well as the United States' commitment to human rights and governance in Africa, particularly in Cameroon." One of the U.S. aids to Cameroon includes an XAF2.3 billion funding for the renovation of the annex of the National Veterinary Laboratory (Lanavet).

During this visit, the senior American diplomat also met with the Secretary-General of the Presidency, who was representing the Head of State, Paul Biya. Although details of these high-level discussions were not disclosed, the Deputy Secretary indicated that "Cameroon is a valuable partner that plays a significant role in economic and regional stability.”

“We have been working in partnership with the Cameroonian government and people for decades in the areas of health, human rights, regional security, and sustainable economic growth, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to promote peace and prosperity for all Cameroonians,” he added.

Professor Frank Ebogo, a geostrategist and lecturer at the Center for Political and Strategic Studies Research at the University of Yaoundé II, described the visit as a charm offensive. He believes Deputy Secretary Verma’s visit embodies a dual logic of domestic and international politics. Domestically, he noted that during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tenure, relations between the U.S. and African nations were strained, with several countries being excluded from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and high-ranking African officials being banned from entering the United States due to governance and human rights issues. However, he stated that current President Joe Biden has rejected this unilateral approach and has significantly reached out to African countries. This visit, according to Ebogo, aims to enhance the image of the United States and serve electoral interests.

On the international front, Ebogo views the visit of the high-ranking American official as an effort to counter Russian influence on the continent, especially given the current international geopolitical tensions. He pointed out the diplomatic flurry observed in 2023, with several visits to the continent by Russian Foreign and Defense Ministers. Similarly, Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since 2022, has decided to expand its influence in Africa, notably by opening an embassy in Côte d’Ivoire. Western diplomats have also conducted several tours in Africa to rally these countries behind Ukraine and its allies against Russia.

Deputy Secretary Verma’s visit, according to Ebogo, reaffirms the United States’ presence in Cameroon and aims to strengthen the cooperation that was faltering compared to the current dynamism of Russian diplomacy. It’s about overshadowing the competition led by countries of the ‘Global South’.

Ebogo also mentioned the BRICS, a political and economic group including Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa, which is increasingly attracting countries and is seen as a competitor to the G7 formed by Western powers. Unconfirmed information suggests that Cameroon has expressed its willingness to join the BRICS, a move not well-received in Western capitals. “The United States comes in this context marked by strong anti-European and anti-American sentiment,” concludes researcher Frank Ebogo.

L.A.