U.S. Asst. Sec. Linda Thomas-Greenfield Travels to Nigeria and Cameroon

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
September 2, 2014

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield is traveling to Nigeria September 2-5. She will attend a regional Ministerial meeting on Boko Haram on September 3. The following day Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield will co-chair a meeting of the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission’s Regional Security Working Group. During her visit, she will also meet with Government of Nigeria officials and civil society to discuss the country’s upcoming 2015 elections. The Assistant Secretary will also meet with recently returned Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni from President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

On September 5-6, the Assistant Secretary is scheduled to travel to Cameroon where she will meet government officials, representatives of the NGO community, and Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni.

Secretary Kerry Issues Statement on Republic of Congo’s National Day

Department of State
Washington, DC
August 14, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I would like to extend congratulations to the people of the Republic of the Congo as you commemorate 54 years of independence on August 15.

We enjoy a close friendship with the Republic of the Congo, working with government officials, private sector leaders, and a broad spectrum of Congolese civil society to strengthen democratic institutions, improve regional security, and promote economic growth and development, sustainable environmental stewardship, and human rights for all people. We are working closely with our Congolese partners to bring peace and stability to the neighboring Central African Republic, and we commend the efforts of the Congolese government to promote political dialogue and a lasting peace for the benefit of the sub-region.

I wish the people of the Republic of the Congo a happy Independence Day celebration. We look forward to forging ever closer ties as we work towards common goals in the region and around the globe.

U.S. Authorizes Departure of Eligible Family Members from Sierra Leone

Marie Harf
Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
August 14, 2014

At the recommendation of the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone, the State Department today ordered the departure from Freetown of all eligible family members (EFMs) not employed by post. The Embassy recommended this step out of an abundance of caution, following the determination by the Department’s Medical Office that there is a lack of options for routine health care services at major medical facilities due to the Ebola outbreak.

We are reconfiguring the Embassy staff to be more responsive to the current situation. Our entire effort is currently focused on assisting U.S. citizens in the country, the Government of Sierra Leone, international health organizations, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the Sierra Leonean people to deal with this unprecedented Ebola outbreak.

We remain deeply committed to supporting Sierra Leone and regional and international efforts to strengthen the capacity of the country’s health care infrastructure and system — specifically, the capacity to contain and control the transmission of the Ebola virus, and deliver health care.

U.S. and Five African Countries Announce Intention To Join GACSA

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
August 14, 2014

Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania and the United States confirmed last week their intention to join the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA). At the August 4 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit event entitled “Resilience and Food Security in a Changing Climate,” Secretary of State John Kerry announced the United States’ intention to join GACSA and encouraged African countries to participate. The event highlighted the nexus of food security, climate change, and resilience – issues that are of particular concern among African nations, where much of the population, relying on rain-fed agriculture, is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on rainfall patterns and seasonal temperatures.

Slated for launch at the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit on September 23, GACSA is expected to engage a range of government, multinational organizations, private sector, farmers and civil society stakeholders to achieve sustainable increases in agricultural productivity, greater resilience and a reduction of agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions.

The United States supports climate-smart agriculture globally through its Feed the Future and Global Climate Change initiatives. This year, USAID initiated ten new Feed the Future Innovation Laboratories to increase global food security and help smallholder farmers boost incomes and improve nutrition. These laboratories draw the expertise of top U.S. universities and developing country research institutions, and will tackle some of the world’s most challenging agricultural research problems with the premise of introducing safe, environmentally sustainable proven and appropriate technologies to the world’s most vulnerable people.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the establishment of seven regional climate hubs to deliver information to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners in the United States to help them adapt to climate change and weather variability.

The U.S. State Department also supports targeted programs that advance climate resilience and food security throughout the world including through contributions to the multilateral Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund and through support for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s new Agriculture Initiative.

Full text of the joint announcement:

Statement of Endorsement for a Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture

The Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity includes, in Section VI, a Commitment to Enhancing Resilience of Livelihoods and Production Systems to Climate Variability and other related risks. This commitment is consistent with the aspirations of those supporting the founding, later this year, of the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA).

Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, and the United States announce our intention to:

• Join and support the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture expected to be launched in September of this year at the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit.

• Urge other countries, along with civil society organizations, private sector representatives, farmer organizations, and other enterprises to join the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture to help fulfill our shared aspirations for strengthened global food and nutrition security and resilience.

U.S. Hosts West Africa Cooperative Security Initiative Forum on Transnational Organized Crime

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
August 8, 2014

On August 8, the United States hosted West African partners from Benin, Cabo Verde, Cotê d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo at the U.S. Department of State to discuss the mutual concern of transnational organized crime. The dialogue brought together representatives from West African states and members of the U.S. interagency community in order to strengthen regional cooperation and discuss future priorities for combatting transnational organized crime.

Transnational criminal activity, particularly narcotics trafficking, threatens regional stability in West Africa and U.S. national security. Criminal organizations operate globally and leverage vital transportation, communications, and financial networks, and enjoy impunity by exploiting or co-opting vulnerable individuals and institutions. Proceeds from these activities have been known to provide support, directly or indirectly, to violent extremist organizations. It is not sufficient to tackle these threats solely through bilateral law enforcement cooperation. Combating transnational organized crime requires an integrated, whole-of-government approach in coordination with regional and global partners, underpinned by the UN drug control and anti-crime treaties.

During the meeting, the United States and our West African partners affirmed our commitment to cooperatively address transnational organized crime in West Africa. The United States will continue to offer technical assistance to build accountable and effective government institutions and an active civil society, both of which can address transnational organized crime and its supporting activities, including drug trafficking, corruption, and money laundering. The United States reaffirmed its commitment to work with West African states to reduce demand for illicit drugs. We are also committed to working cooperatively with West African partners following the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington and in the lead up to the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs scheduled for 2016.

The West Africa Cooperative Security Initiative (WACSI) is a U.S. government effort to increase global security by addressing transnational organized crime in West Africa.

Please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov for more information. You can follow the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs on Twitter @StateINL and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/StateINL.

Anniversary of Attacks in Kenya and Tanzania

Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
August 7, 2014

Today marks the 16th anniversary of the cowardly terrorist attacks on the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, that killed over 200 and wounded thousands more. We commemorate those who were lost that day, honor the lives they lived, and extend our condolences to the loved ones they left behind.

Today’s anniversary is a somber reminder of the continued terrorist threat that we face on the African continent and around the world, and an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to partner with our allies to confront it. At the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit that concluded yesterday, the United States and leaders from across Africa confirmed our shared commitment to the continent’s security and recommitted our resolve to address threats—in East Africa and more broadly—so that we and our partners can enjoy peace and security.

Secretary Kerry Issues Statement on Cote d’Ivoire’s National Day

Department of State
Washington, DC
August 7, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Cote d’Ivoire as you celebrate your national independence on August 7.

Our two nations have been partners since independence peacefully arrived in Cote d’Ivoire over half a century ago. As your new flag flew over Abidjan, one of the first congratulations to arrive was a letter from U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. Robert Kennedy was in Cote d’Ivoire that next August to celebrate one year of peace and independence with your proud nation.

Our bonds of friendship have only grown stronger in the years since as we promote democracy and prosperity for the entire West Africa region.

Following a long tradition of mutual warmth and regard, I extend the United States’ best wishes to the people of Cote d’Ivoire on your day of celebration.