Ambassador Johnnie Carson On Policy Guidelines For Africa

WASHINGTON, Thursday February 18, 2010 - Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, outlined the Obama Administration’s policy guidelines for engagement with Africa at the 2010 Annual David H. Miller Foundation Lecture held at the Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University. The five guiding principles are helping strengthen democracy, supporting economic growth & prosperity, strengthening public health systems, preventing armed conflicts and collaborating with African governments to address transnational challenges such as human and narcotics trafficking, global terrorism, climate change and environmental matters.

On the subject of democracy he cited Malawi, South Africa and Ghana as good examples to emulate and decried the unfortunate incidents in Nigeria, Guinea Madagascar and Niger. According to him, 27 African nations are scheduled to conduct elections over the next two years hence the need for greater attention to democracy on the continent. Africa is the world’s poorest and least integrated continent he said and is responsible for only 2% of world trade. Efforts by the U.S. government to facilitate economic growth through programs like African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation were timely and could be understated.

On strengthening health systems he noted that while Africa accounts for only 10% of the world’s population, 60% of HIV Aids cases were found on the continent with countries like South Africa and Nigeria in the lead. In speaking about prevention of armed conflicts, he noted that while significant strides had been made, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan were exceptions. Before the end of the lecture Ambassador Carson successfully conveyed the Obama Administration’s keen interest in being Africa’s partner citing visits by the President and high ranking officials to the continent in the first year alone.

Ambassador Carson was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State on May 7, 2009. His 37-year Foreign Service career includes ambassadorships to Kenya (1999-2003), Zimbabwe (1995 - 1997), and Uganda (1991-1994).