U.S. Delegation To Attend Kofi Annan’s Funeral in Accra, Ghana

Photo: Kofi Annan, Facebook

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
September 11, 2018

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea L. Thompson will lead a U.S. delegation to the September 13, 2018 funeral of former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.

The U.S. delegation will pay respect to Kofi Annan’s manifold contributions to the international community and underscore the U.S. commitment to a strong partnership with Ghana.

Sec. Pompeo Issues Statement on Eswatini’s National Day

Department of State
Washington, DC
September 6, 2018

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer congratulations on the 50th anniversary of Eswatini’s independence.

I applaud the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini’s commitment to the health of its people, as Eswatini continues its work to control HIV/AIDS and achieve its goal of an AIDS-free generation. I also commend the government on the important steps it took which led to Eswatini’s reinstatement under the African Growth and Opportunity Act earlier this year. The United States recognizes the importance of our partnership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and stands ready to help the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini make full use of its AGOA eligibility.

As Eswatini celebrates a half-century of independence, I wish the people of Eswatini a prosperous, healthy, and peaceful future.

US Department of State Inaugurates New Regional Antiterrorism Training Facility in Senegal

File Photo

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
September 6, 2018

The Department of State and the Government of Senegal today inaugurated a new regional counterterrorism training facility in Thiès, Senegal.

U.S. and Senegalese officials formally dedicated the new Regional Tactical Training Center, which was funded, constructed, and equipped through the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program. The new center is ATA’s first regional training facility in West Africa.

Once fully operational, the training center, part of a pre-existing Senegalese training facility, will expand ATA’s capacity to train Senegalese and other West African partner nation law enforcement officers at this regional counterterrorism training hub. ATA will provide training in hard skills such as crisis response, explosive incident countermeasures, post-blast investigations, and rural border patrol operations.

The ATA program has been delivering counterterrorism training in Senegal since 1985. The new training center further cements our relationship and underscores the continued close partnership that the United States has with Senegal in advancing the counterterrorism capacities of law enforcement agencies in the region.

For more information on the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program, please visit: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/protection/terrorism/c8583.htm.

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship To Hold Conference in South Africa

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program Marks 40th Anniversary With Alumni Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa
09/06/2018 10:44 AM EDT

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC

September 6, 2018

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program will celebrate 40 years of bringing international professionals to the United States to engage in study and collaborate with U.S. counterparts at “African Humphrey Voices: Building a Better Future for Our Continent.” a Pan-African alumni conference Sept. 14-16, 2018, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The three-day event will focus on economic development and good governance and will acknowledge the legacy of the nearly 6,000 Fellows and Alumni and the communities enriched by them.

Founded in 1978 in honor of the late Senator and Vice President, the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides a year of professional enrichment and leadership development in the United States for mid-career professionals from countries across the developing world. The Humphrey Program fosters a mutual exchange of knowledge, builds professional capacity, promotes lasting ties, and enhances international cooperation.

Each year approximately 150 Fellows, funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, engage in graduate-level non-degree study and related professional experiences at leading U.S. universities in fields critical to U.S. relations with the developing world. The program now has a network of nearly 6,000 fellows and alumni in 162 countries around the world working to improve their communities.

The Humphrey Program was launched as a Presidential initiative in 1978. Over the next year, the State Department, working closely with the Institute of International Education, aims to acknowledge the extraordinary professional achievements and impact of Humphrey alumni during the Fellowship’s first 40 years through a series of events around the world. The Humphrey Program begins its anniversary events in Johannesburg in recognition that thirty percent of all Humphrey alumni are from Sub-Saharan Africa, the largest regional concentration in the world.

For press inquiries, please contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at ECA-Press@state.gov. Learn more about the Humphrey Program by visiting http://www.humphreyfellowship.org/. Join the conversation about the conference and the 40th anniversary on social media using the hashtag #Humphrey40.

DC Celebrates African Heritage Month

The DC Mayor’s office on African Affairs issued this proclamation for African Heritage Month.

President Kenyatta Meets President Trump

Photo: White House

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release

August 27, 2018

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN EXPANDED BILATERAL MEETING

Cabinet Room
2:13 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, thank you very much.  We are with President Kenyatta of a wonderful country that we do a lot of business with, Kenya.  One of the most beautiful countries, from what I understand, Mr. President.

We have lots of pictures and lots of people that tell me how beautiful your country is.  And we do a lot of tourism.  We do a lot of trade.  And we do a lot of defense and security.  And we’re working very much on security right now.  And I appreciate you very much being with us and your staff.  This is really great.  Your representatives have been dealing with our representatives and making a lot of progress.  We’re talking about a very major highway/roadway.  And that seems to be going along well.  That’s a very important project, I think, for your country.

And so we appreciate, very much, you being at the White House and being with us.  And we look forward to the discussion.

Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT KENYATTA:  Thank you very much.  And thank you for your warm welcome.  As you said, we’ve had strong relations that stretch back — all the way back to our own independence.  And we are here to cement that partnership.  We are here to strengthen the support we have received as a country, especially with regards to our security and defense cooperation has been immense.

I had a good opportunity to speak with Mike, both in his former capacity and his current capacity.  (Laughter.)  And we work very well together, and I want to take this opportunity to appreciate that.

But more importantly, even as we work on these aspects, what’s most important and what makes our country survive is the trade and investment partnership.  I mean, this is really what we should work to deepen much more as we go forward.

So I’m really looking forward to this discussion, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we take our relationship now to the next level —

PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Good.

PRESIDENT KENYATTA:  — for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.

PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, you are here on a very special day because the stock market is up almost 300 points today.  We just signed a trade agreement with Mexico, and it’s a terrific agreement for everybody.  It’s been in the works for a long time.  It’s an agreement that a lot of people said couldn’t be done, and we did something, and it was very special.  Great for our farmers, our workers.

And our stock market just broke 26,000 for the first time ever in the history.  So today we have the highest stock price we’ve ever had.  And we’re very happy about that.  I said that was going to happen and it’s happened.  Everything I said is going to happen, it ends up happening.

So you picked a good day to come.  (Laughter.)  We’re in a very good mood.

PRESIDENT KENYATTA:  Well, let’s hope you’re going to transfer some of that into Kenya.  (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT TRUMP:  We’ll bring that over to Kenya.  (Laughter.)  Thank you very much, everybody.  I appreciate it.  Thank you.  Thank you.


END                2:16 P.M. EDT


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Joint Statement from President Donald J. Trump and President Uhuru Kenyatta

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2018

Joint Statement from President Donald J. Trump and President Uhuru Kenyatta

President Donald J. Trump welcomed President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya to the White House today.  In marking 55 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Kenya, and in recognition of the growing scope and depth of the engagements between the two countries, the leaders resolved to elevate the relationship to a Strategic Partnership, affirming it as a cornerstone of peace, stability and good governance in Africa and the Indian Ocean region.  This United States– Kenya Strategic Partnership will include an annual dialogue to advance mutual prosperity.

President Trump commended the Kenya Defence Forces for their service and sacrifice in combatting al-Shabaab and ISIS in Somalia.  President Trump also lauded Kenya for taking a leading role in the East African fight against terrorism and for its sustained dedication to this effort.  The leaders reaffirmed and strengthened their commitment to continued counterterrorism cooperation against violent extremists who seek to take innocent lives and deny fundamental human rights.  To further enhance this counterterrorism collaboration, President Trump welcomed Kenya’s decision to join the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.  President Trump also thanked President Kenyatta for his diplomatic efforts to bring peace to South Sudan and to the region more widely.

The leaders pledged to deepen defense and security cooperation, building on the recent acquisition of military equipment made in the United States and committed to further enhance Kenya Defence Forces capabilities.  Further, the United States pledged to strengthen Kenya’s national disaster and crisis response capacity.

President Kenyatta thanked President Trump for the United States’ continued support of the Kenyatta administration’s efforts towards greater accountability, transparency, and institution building.  As democracies committed to a rules-based international order, the United States and Kenya share a common vision for free and open societies. This includes global freedom of navigation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

The leaders committed to expand their economic cooperation aimed at making their nations stronger and their citizens more prosperous.  In this regard, President Trump thanked President Kenyatta for hosting the United States delegation of the Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa.  To further enhance the economic partnership, the two leaders agreed to establish a United States–Kenya Trade and Investment Working Group to explore ways to deepen ties between the two countries.  Further, the Presidents are pleased to announce that their governments established direct flights between Nairobi and New York City, a move that will expand the economic and cultural ties between the two great countries.

Recognizing the importance of high-quality infrastructure, President Trump and President Kenyatta welcomed the proposal by United States engineering and construction firm Bechtel Corporation to build a modern superhighway from Nairobi to Mombasa. Both sides agreed to undertake further consultations to conclude the terms of the financing agreement.

This and nearly $900 million in other commercial deals and engagements announced during the visit are expected to create thousands of American and Kenyan jobs, further enhancing the prosperity and economic competitiveness of both nations.

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US Issues Statement on Ruling of Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court

File Photo

Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court Ruling on the Presidential Election
08/24/2018 08:44 PM EDT

Press Statement
Heather Nauert
Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 24, 2018

Today, Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court declared Emmerson D. Mnangagwa the winner of the election and Zimbabwe’s next President and dismissed MDC Alliance’s challenge of the July 30 presidential election results. The United States urges all parties to respect the Zimbabwean constitution and the rule of law.

The IRI-NDI Zimbabwe International Electoral Observation Mission reported “several improvements to the electoral process compared to Zimbabwe’s past elections, though equally important problems gave rise to deep concerns that the process thus far has not made the mark.” Further reforms are necessary to meet standards Zimbabweans expect and deserve and which reflect regional and international best practices for democratic elections.

The United States remains concerned over politically motivated human rights violations and abuses, and acts of post-electoral retribution in Zimbabwe. Violence and unlawful activity should not be part of the political process, and those responsible for such transgressions must be held accountable. Human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression and association, must be respected, and victims and witnesses of human rights violations and abuses deserve protection under the law.

The United States encourages the Government of Zimbabwe to hold substantive discussions with all stakeholders and implement electoral and broader political and economic reforms. We stand ready to continue our dialogue with Zimbabwe’s political, economic, and civil society leaders to foster inclusive democratic governance for the betterment of all citizens.

U.S.-Ghana Cyber Study Visit

File Photo

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
August 22, 2018

Senior representatives from the United States and Ghana participated in a U.S.-Ghana Cyber Study visit to facilitate stronger bilateral cooperation on cyber issues, including building government capacity to address emerging challenges and shared threats.

The visit covered key cyber and Internet policy topics, such as improving cybersecurity, including the protection of critical infrastructure and combating cybercrime. The delegation received an official tour of the National Cybersecurity Communications and Integration Center. Additional discussions with non-governmental organizations and the private sector emphasized the benefits of public-private partnership on cyber policy.

The visit was conducted as part of the Security Governance Initiative, a partnership between the United States and Ghana that seeks to enable Ghana to develop and enhance policies, systems, and processes to more efficiently and responsibly deliver security and justice to their citizens.

Mr. Robert Strayer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. Department of State, led the U.S. government interagency delegation, which also included representatives from the Department of State, Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Minister for Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, led the Ghanaian delegation, which also included representatives from the National Communications Authority and the Bureau of National Communications.

For updates on U.S. cyber and Internet policy, follow the Economic and Business Affairs Bureau at @StateCIP or the State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues at @State_Cyber on Twitter.

For updates on Ghanaian cyber and internet policy, visit the National Cyber Security Centre at the Ministry of Communication at www.cybersecurity.gov.gh and contact info@cybersecurity.gov.gh.

US Issues Statement on the Presidential Election in Mali

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita 

Heather Nauert
Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 20, 2018

The United States commends the people of Mali for their participation in the presidential election on July 29 and the runoff on August 12. The elections were a demonstration of their commitment to democratic values and we congratulate President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on his reelection. We condemn the violence and threats that prevented some Malians from voting.

The United States and Mali maintain a lasting friendship and share the goals of peace and prosperity in Mali. We look forward to continuing to work together to overcome the serious challenges Mali faces from terrorism, to promote development, and to fully and rapidly implement the Algiers Accord for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.

Sec. Pompeo Issues Statement on Gabon’s National Day

Department of State
Washington, DC
August 17, 2018

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the people of the Gabonese Republic on the 58th anniversary of your independence on August 17th.
Exchanges between our peoples continue to increase through programs such as the Young African Leadership Initiative and the International Visitor Leadership Program. The United States stands ready to work directly with Gabon as it strives to diversify its economy, strengthen its maritime security, and counter illicit trafficking of its natural resources. Our bilateral resolve to promote U.S.-Gabon trade, bolster Gabon’s military capacity, and further develop conservation efforts demonstrates our shared vision for a safe and prosperous Gabon.

We look forward to many more years of friendship and cooperation.