The tensions between Joe Biden’s administration and several African nations highlight a broader global conflict over values, national sovereignty, and human rights. Biden has taken a firm stance in promoting LGBTQ+ rights globally, including using sanctions against countries that implement laws criminalizing same-sex relations. This has created significant backlash, especially in parts of Africa where cultural, religious, and societal norms strongly oppose such lifestyles.

Gino Jennings, a vocal religious leader, has been a prominent critic of Biden’s policies. He condemns the U.S. for what he views as imposing Western ideologies on sovereign nations, arguing that these countries have the right to uphold their own cultural and religious beliefs without external interference. Jennings’ opposition resonates with many in Africa and other conservative religious communities worldwide, who feel that their convictions are being undermined by Western powers.

Jennings, in his sermons, emphasizes that African leaders should stand firm in their faith and values, even in the face of sanctions or economic pressure. He questions Biden’s prioritization of LGBTQ+ rights, accusing the U.S. of neglecting other pressing issues such as poverty, food scarcity, and healthcare in favor of promoting ideologies that conflict with the beliefs of many Africans. For Jennings, the sovereignty of African nations and their right to self-determination are fundamental, and he frames Biden’s actions as an attempt to coerce these nations into accepting values that contradict their religious and moral frameworks.

Biden’s administration has justified its actions by framing them as part of a global push for human rights, emphasizing equality and protection for vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals. However, Jennings, and others who share his view, see this as cultural imperialism, where Western nations use their political and economic power to enforce a specific agenda on other countries.

This clash between U.S. foreign policy and African nations’ sovereignty raises fundamental questions about the balance between global human rights advocacy and respecting national cultural and religious differences. As African leaders, supported by figures like Jennings, push back against external pressure, the divide between Western and non-Western values continues to widen. The ongoing debate over LGBTQ+ rights in international politics highlights the complexities of navigating these issues in a diverse and globalized world.