February 11
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson Completes Multi-nation Africa Tour
West Africa - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson has completed a week long 4-nation African tour. Ambassador Carson and his delegation were first in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the just ended African Union Summit where they interacted with African leaders. Following the summit, Carson traveled to Ghana, where he conferred with President John Evans Atta Mills, met with representatives of the business community and delivered remarks at a regional U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) conference in Accra. In Togo, he met with President Faure Gnassingbé, Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo, and Foreign Minister Kofi Esaw and in Benin, met with President Thomas Yayi Boni and Foreign Minister Jean-Marie Ehouzou. He ended his tour in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, where he met with members of civil society, representatives of the state government and held bilateral meetings with the new acting President - Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe.
January 29 - February 5, 2010
New MCC Chief Executive Visits Ghana and Cape Verde
Africa - In his First trip as Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) head since his appointment by president Obama in September 2009, Mr. Daniel Yohannes travelled to Ghana and Cape Verde to evaluate project results by the two partner countries. During his visit to Ghana January 30–February 2, Yohannes toured the N1 Highway, visited the Pakro School, met with beneficiaries at the Bomart Pineapple Farm, handed out land titles and attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new land title registration office in Winneba. Yohannes also met with President John Atta Mills and other senior Ghanaian officials. In Cape Verde Mr. Yohannes held a meeting with Prime Minister José Maria Neves. In August 2006, the MCC and Ghana signed a five-year, $547 million compact aimed at reducing poverty by raising farmers’ incomes through private-sector and agribusiness development. The MCC signed its first, five-year compact with Cape Verde in July 2005 for $110 million; it was aimed at transforming the economy from aid dependence to private-sector growth.
February 2, 2010
United States Congratulates New African Union Chairman
Washington, DC - The United States congratulated Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika, president of Malawi, on his election by the African Union General Assembly to serve as chairperson of the African Union (AU), saying it looks forward to continuing the U.S. partnership with the AU to promote peace, prosperity and security for all Africans. In a statement, Phillip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary of state for public affairs at the U.S. Department of State, said: “We share Chairperson Mutharika’s goals of ending child hunger and malnutrition and welcome his interest in promoting the critical goal of agricultural development and food security on the continent. The U.S. stands ready to partner with the AU on promoting democracy and good governance and to ensure free, fair and transparent elections on the continent in the coming year.”
January 28, 2010
The United States & European Allies Urge Nigeria to Exercise Restraint
Washington, DC - The United States joined France and the European Union in urging Nigeria to adhere to its constitutional process in the “current period of uncertainty” caused by the absence of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who has been undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia for the past three months. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton signed the joint statement. “We express our deep regret at the recent violence and tragic loss of lives in Jos, and extend our sympathies to the bereaved and injured. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and seek peaceful means to resolve differences between religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria,” the statement said. Nigeria is one of the most important countries in sub-Saharan Africa, a member of the U.N. Security Council, a global oil producer, a leader in ECOWAS [the Economic Community of West African States], a major peacekeeping contributing country, and a stabilizing force in West Africa.
January 20, 2010
The United States Welcomes Normalization of Chad-Sudan Relations
Washington, DC - The United States congratulated the Governments of Chad and Sudan on the signing of the January 15 agreements in N’Djamena to normalize relations. The two countries have agreed to prevent armed groups from using the territory of either state against the interests of the other and to establish mechanisms to monitor their common border. “We believe that the normalization of Chad-Sudan relations provides an important opportunity to advance ongoing international efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the situation in Darfur, and we call on the Governments of Chad and Sudan to contribute actively and appropriately to these peace efforts” the statement read. “This agreement will also enhance regional stability and promote economic growth. The United States stands ready to support implementation of these agreements, at the request of the signatories. The United States remains committed to a political settlement in Darfur and will continue to work closely with our partners to secure a sustainable and just peace.” Mark C. Toner - Deputy Department Spokesman, Bureau of African Affairs
January 13, 2010
African Diaspora Marketplace
Washington, DC - USAID, Western Union, Western Union Foundation, Academy for Educational Development and ECOBANK Transnational Inc. sponsored a successful African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) initiative to help spur job growth in African countries. Fourteen diaspora-driven businesses in seven African countries were awarded matching grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Winning entries ranged from a commercial plant tissue culture business that uses biotechnology to increase yield and quality of produce for Ethiopian agriculture producers, to a franchise business model that will empower female nurse entrepreneurs to improve access to healthcare and reduce the burden on government hospitals in Ghana. The ADM is an entrepreneurial business program that seeks to boost economic opportunity in Sub-Saharan Africa through sustainable start-up and established enterprises. ADM winners received grants to match their own funds to support the execution of their business plans.
January 12, 2010
Briefing on US Led Naval Operations in Africa (Africa Partnership Station)
Washington, DC - Vice Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr. Deputy Commander U.S. Naval Forces Africa held a media round table at the Washington Foreign Press Center to highlight the activities of the US led Africa Partnership Station, the just ended deployments in four west African nations and an ongoing one in Eastern Africa. In his opening remarks Vice Admiral Harris introduced the mission of the Africa Partnership Station (APS) which are maritime security and safety, international military partnerships and a long term commitment to Africa’s maritime capacity development through training and other collaborative activities. He explained that all three were important for the prosperity and well being of any nation. “APS has no other agenda other than responding to specific capacity building requests from African nations” he reiterated, to debunk speculations that the US led program may be imposing US ideology on African nations. “APS focuses on building cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services in order to achieve common international goals of stability and security.” With African nations losing billions of dollars each year to illegal fishing, piracy and human trafficking, he stressed the importance of APS’s mission in these times of known piracy and human trafficking acts in Africa and elsewhere.
January 11, 2010
U.S. Observe the Fifth Anniversary of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Washington, DC – U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Air Force Rtd. Major General Scott Gration led America’s observation of the 5th anniversary of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) - January 9th. The CPA is an agreement that ended the longest running war in Africa, the civil war between the North and the South. “Since 2005, the National Congress Party and the Sudanese People Liberation Movement have made significant progress toward peace. The northern troops pulled out of the South. The ceasefire has largely held. The government of national unity was formed in Khartoum and the regional government of Southern Sudan was created in Juba. The oil wealth has been shared, and the historical grazing rights have been honored. The parties have reached agreements on the border with the disputed area, what we call Abyei. They’ve passed legislation to prepare for the national and legislative elections, the popular consultations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile areas, and the two referenda on self-determination in Abyei and in Southern Sudan. At the same time, peace remains incomplete. There’s not been enough progress on the democratic transformation that was envisioned in the CPA. Violence in the South is too high. And insecurity and lawlessness in Darfur remain much too high also. We will continue to support Sudan’s elections, for they’re an important CPA milestone toward democratic transformation. They are a key stepping stone to credible referenda in January of 2011. Just one year from now, the people of Southern Sudan and Abyei will choose whether to remain part of Sudan or to separate and form an independent country. This will be Africa’s first country in nearly 20 years. The United States is committed to peace in Sudan, and we will provide the leadership and support that’s required to achieve that objective.”
November 5, 2009
President Obama Meets President Ian Khama of Botswana
The White House - President Obama met with Botswana’s President Khama at the Oval office to discuss a range of bilateral issues including environmental, democracy and the African Union. In his remarks to the press President Obama praised Botswana economic success. “Although Botswana is not a large country, it is truly one of the extraordinary success stories in Africa. Since the mid-'60s it has moved on a path of good economic management and outstanding political governance. And as a consequence you have seen extraordinary improvements in living standards over the last 40 years in Botswana that really are an envy for much of the rest of the continent. Not only has Botswana shown itself to be an outstanding success, but it's also been a great partner to the United States, and our governments have cooperated extensively throughout the years.” President Khama spoke about trade, health, and how both countries were tackling the current economic downturn. This meeting was President Obama’s last with an African leader during his first year in office. On May 22, 2009 he held his first such meeting with Tanzania’s President Kikwete.
September 29, 2009
President Atta Mills U.S. Townhall Meeting
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