President Nelson Mandela: 1918 – 2013

AP Photo Thursday, December 5, 2013

Johannesburg, South Africa
President Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa, died today at the age of 95. Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, elected after the end of apartheid in 1994, was a Nobel Prize winner and a global symbol of progress and reconciliation.

Mandela was jailed for 27 years for anti-apartheid political activity. Released in 1990, he played a leading role in steering the divided country from apartheid to a fully-representative democracy.

Policy Discussion with Asst. Secretary of African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Story & Picture Courtesy Africa Update – December Edition

Office of Rep. Karen Bass
Washington, DC

On November 20, more than 300 people, including members of Congress, African Ambassadors and representatives from the public and private sectors, gathered to welcome the recently appointed Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. The former and first U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, Rosa Whitaker, served as the evening’s emcee.

To a standing room-only audience, members of Congress, including Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL), and Mark Meadows (R-NC), greeted the Assistant Secretary and showed their strong support for U.S.-Africa policy. Also in attendance were more than a dozen African Ambassadors. Ambassador Serge Mombouli from the Republic of Congo offered a greeting on behalf of the African Diplomatic Corps.

In her speech, the Assistant Secretary discussed AGOA, Power Africa, Trade Africa, the Young African Leaders Initiative and other U.S.-led efforts that show the strong commitment of our nation to the African continent.

The Assistant Secretary affirmed her unwavering commitment toward a strong Africa partnership by noting, “I strive every day to pursue both our long-term interests as well as deal with the near-term and urgent imperatives we face. We work closely every day with our African partners to strengthen democratic institutions beyond just the need for free, fair and transparent elections. We strive to establish environments where new entrepreneurship networks can flourish, economic opportunities can grow, and comprehensive development frameworks can take root.”

Denver Colorado: U.S. Government Takes Stand On Illegal Ivory

Story & Picture
Courtesy Africa Update – December Issue

Office of U.S. Representative Karen Bass
Washington, DC 20515

The Obama administration demonstrated a clear message last week when the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service crushed six tons of ivory in Denver, Colorado. This public act highlights the illegal ivory trade that has had disastrous effects on wildlife, numerous African economies and has helped to fund terrorism.

Last year, poaching and the illegal hunting of elephants and rhinos resulted in the death of more than 30,000 elephants across the African continent. The ivory trade was outlawed in 1989 but in 2011, poaching rates on the continent were the highest they have been since the international ban took effect. The value of figurines and household items is worth far less than the cost the illegal ivory trade is having on wildlife around the world.

Al-Shabab, the terrorist group that perpetrated the attack at the Westgate Mall in Kenya is partially funded by the illegal ivory trade. Despite such an example, the demand for the illegal ivory comes largely from an increase in demand from nations like China, Vietnam, Thailand and the United States. In fact, the U.S. is the world’s second-largest market for ivory.

As the demand for ivory increases, local economies and communities on the continent continue to be negatively impacted. Last week Secretary of State John Kerry presented a $1 million dollar award for information that would help dismantle a criminal operation in Laos that kills elephants and rhinos for ivory and their horns.

Despite the symbolic significance of the crushing, efforts must continue to ensure that the illegal ivory trade is dismantled.

President Obama Speaks on World Aids Day 2013

U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth Visits South Sudan

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
December 3, 2013

U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Ambassador Donald Booth will be traveling to Juba, South Sudan on December 4, 2013 to attend the South Sudan Investment Conference and for meetings with the Government of South Sudan and other diplomatic partners.

The trip will be Special Envoy Booth’s second visit to South Sudan in his new capacity and will focus on U.S. support for investment and sustainable development in South Sudan. The Envoy will attend the conference to support U.S. investment in South Sudan and to recognize the importance of South Sudan’s efforts to enhance its business and investment climate. He will also meet with senior leadership from the Government of South Sudan and members of civil society in order to discuss issues including economic development, peace and security, human rights and good governance.

U.S. Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield Visits Nigeria and Kenya

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
December 3, 2013

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, will travel to Nigeria and Kenya, December 2-13. The Assistant Secretary will be joined for part of her visit to Nigeria with other members of the U.S. government, including representatives from AFRICOM, the U.S. Department of Defense, and USAID.

In Nigeria, the Assistant Secretary will meet with senior Nigerian officials, following up on President Obama’s meeting with President Jonathan in September on the margins of the UN General Assembly. The Assistant Secretary will travel to Kano and Lagos to further her engagement with a cross-section of Nigerians, and participate in meetings with government, business and civil society representatives to continue to build the US/Nigeria partnership.

In Kenya, Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield will join the United States’ delegation attending the Golden Jubilee to celebrate the Republic of Kenya’s 50th anniversary of independence. During her visit she will also focus on furthering the important relationship between the U.S. and Kenya on democracy, economic prosperity, and security.

Secretary Kerry Issues Statement On Central African Republic’s National Day

Department of State
Washington, DC
November 30, 2013

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I extend my deepest hope to the people of the Central African Republic that you may celebrate your independence on December 1 in peace and security.

The United States stands with the courageous people of the Central African Republic as we work together and with regional and international partners to restore stability, protect human rights, promote national reconciliation, and re-establish constitutional governance in your country.

We share a vision for your country’s future that includes security and prosperity for all people. To help realize that vision, we are planning to provide $40 million in assistance to the African Union-led peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic. We have also provided more than $24 million in humanitarian assistance and an additional $6 million specifically to support new Central African refugees in neighboring states.

I congratulate the people of the Central African Republic on their National Day and extend my sincerest wishes for a future of peace, stability, and prosperity.