U.S. Policy in Africa

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At an Africa Action event in collaboration with Howard University African Studies Department, U.S. policy in Africa under the Obama Administration was discussed. Africa Action describes itself as the oldest organization in the U.S. working on African affairs. Their mission is to change U.S.-African relations to promote political, economic and social justice in Africa. At the event Emira Woods, Co-Director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, Semhar Araia, Africa analyst and lawyer, member of the Obama-Biden Transition Team and Professor Shadrack Gutto, renowned African scholar, author and educator, gave opening remarks followed by four different panels that discussed concerns in Africa such as conflict and militarism, economic policy, global health policy and climate change.

Woods said “we are dealing with a triple crisis: the economic system hasn’t worked, we have a food crisis and Africa is at the epicenter of global warming.” She continued “everything must change and we need a new engagement that encourages movement.” In November the World Bank revised its economic outlook for developing countries and acknowledged that developing countries “are now much more vulnerable, with dwindling capital flows, huge withdrawals of capital leading to losses in equity markets, and skyrocketing interest rates.”

Araia believes “we need smart power signaling the return to foreign policy.” She said “we need the three D’s, diplomacy, development and defense.” Araia feels the U.S. should host a White House summit on African affairs in order to improve diplomatic engagements, revert back to care competency of military and work on development by addressing youth, unemployment and alternative energy options.

Gutto said that the “U.S. should be a partner with Africa to solve conflicts and ensure peace in Sudan.” Civilian displacements and killings in Darfur continued throughout 2008 as UNAMID was reduced to bystanders because of acute shortages of troops, road transport and helicopters. UNAMID is the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur and it took control of peacekeeping operations in Darfur. UNAMID is authorized to consist of 19,555 military personnel but currently there are only 9,200 uniformed personnel.

After the speakers gave remarks, the first panelist Professor Mahmood Mamndani, renowned author and expert in African history, politics and international relations began to speak on the conflicts and militarism in Africa and what the Obama Administration should do.

Mamndani said “the conflicts in Africa are interethnic conflicts.” In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deadly fighting continues in the North Kivu region between government forces and rebels loyal to General Laurent Nkunda. Nkunda’s recent threat to expand his rebellion beyond the eastern region to overrun Kinshasa threatens to plunge the whole country into deadly civil war again. Mamndani believes “Obama will talk with African leaders to resolve these conflicts.”

Neil Watkins, Executive Director of Jubilee USA Network, discussed economic policy in Africa. Watkins mentioned the incident where 120 Africans were killed when they were siphoning gas from an overturned tanker to sell in order to buy food. Watkins said “the unemployment rate in Kenya is 40% and there is a 50% decline in growth.” Some factors that contribute to the economic crisis are reduced foreign aid, there are lower prices and less demand for African exports and it’s difficult for African countries to get access to credit. In order to help the economic crisis in Africa Watkins suggested “we need to change our own policies and recover our own economy so credit becomes more available.” He also suggested that “Obama should keep his promise to double foreign aid and there should be a new debt policy.”

Krista Johnson, professor in the African Studies Department at Howard University, talked about global health policy in Africa. Johnson said “PEPFAR was the largest commitment ever created by the Bush Administration in 2003; it provided money for HIV/AIDS in Africa.” PEPFAR is the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief. The plan was launched to combat global HIV/AIDS and is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease. Johnson feels “there should be more emphasis on multi-lateral initiatives.” She continued, “there needs to be a balance between soft power, reliance on diplomacy and hard power, more military.”

Leslie Fields, National Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships Director at the Sierra Club spoke on environment and climate change. Fields said “there are water shortages and droughts due to climate change.” She believes the U.S. has a responsibility and said that “Obama has signaled that he will do something about the climate change.” Global warming threatens farmers and fishermen and critical industries of tourism and agriculture. The United States should reduce its own carbon emissions and offer responsible financing to African countries threatened by climate change.

Incidentally, global temperatures have been dropping for several years now.

Alanna Hultz is an intern at the American Journalism Center, a training program run by Accuracy in Media and Accuracy in Academia.