The threat of a widening war in the Middle East has dominated the attention of policymakers in the United States and delegates to the UN General Assembly – and ensured that Sudan’s civil war and humanitarian catastrophe will not get the attention it deserves. Yet less than two months ahead of the US presidential election, which could decide the country’s stance on multilateralism for a generation, Washington’s diplomats seem to be determined to set their internationalist credentials in stone.

Following the forced US military withdrawal from Niger, losing access to two counter-terror bases in the Sahel, officials are trying to reshape the US military presence in Africa. The US and the EU want to improve relations with states such as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon. The US is offering a military aid package to Libreville which could counter Chinese influence. US Africa Command chief General Michael Langley says that talks have been held with the Tripoli and Tobruk-based governments about southern Libya hosting US bases. The US wants to be Libya’s ‘preferred partner’, says Langley – despite Russia’s growing influence there. He adds that US officials are ‘actively watching’ China’s efforts to establish a second military base in Africa after Djibouti. Another region where the US is ramping up interest is the Lobito corridor linking Angola to Zambia. Joe Biden will make his first – and last – African presidential visit to Lobito on 13-15 October.