After a tumultuous 3.5 years, a wide array of African stakeholders are hoping for a “reset” in Washington’s ties with the continent following the election of President-elect Joe Biden. Specifically, they’re hoping the United States will re-engage multilateral institutions like the WHO and the WTO, resume its traditional leadership role in international finance and do more to help countries battle the spread of COVID-19.

But more than anything, there’s a desire for the United States to dial down the rhetoric against China. African leaders have become increasingly anxious in recent months that they’re going to once again get swept up in a great power duel. Memories of the last Cold War are still fresh and how Africa suffered disproportionately. Furthermore, heightened U.S.-China tensions unnerve global markets that brings down prices of oil and other key commodities that generate the bulk of the continent’s income.