United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded his maiden trip to the African continent last Tuesday in Ethiopia, where he met the country’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the president Zewde Sahle-Work and African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat among other dignitaries.
Pompeo also visited Angola and Senegal, where he highlighted America’s commitment to pursuing its strategic interests and supporting its African allies.
During his final leg in Ethiopia, Pompeo took some time to warn South Africa’s government against plans to expropriate land without compensation, saying it would be ‘disastrous’ for the economy.
“South Africa is debating an amendment to permit the expropriation of private property without compensation. That would be disastrous for that economy, and most importantly for the South African people,” he was quoted by Bloomberg news agency as saying.
Pompeo argued that African economies need “strong rule of law, respect for property rights and regulation that encourages investment’‘.
South Africa’s ruling party has said it is committed to amending the constitution to allow land expropriation without compensation in order to tackle the “historical injustice” caused by the white-minority rule. Most of the country’s farms and agricultural holdings are owned by white farmers, 72% according to government statistics. White people make up 9% of the population.
In a speech at the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa in the Ethiopian capital, Pompeo reiterated the United States’ warning to African countries against big infrastructure projects financed by Chinese loans.“Countries should be wary of authoritarian regimes with empty promises. They breed corruption, dependency,” Pompeo said in a speech to diplomats and business leaders.
