America.gov-Africa

An Invitation to Africans: Send a message to President Obama

Terry Somerville — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:49:40 -0400

Africans are invited to send a message to President Obama and receive highlights of his July 11 speech in Ghana.

The U.S.-Ghana Partnership Today

DomowitzS — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:56:25 -0400

These America.gov articles provide background on U.S.-Ghana relations today.

Citizen Involvement Essential to Ghana’s Development Successes

Kathryn McConnell — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:11:27 -0400

Ghana is one of the better-performing nations in Africa, says the top U.S. aid official in the country. By adopting good governance practices and involving citizens, Ghana has had successes in education, health and business development. The U.S.-Ghana aid relationship stretches back to 1957.

State Department’s David Foran Discusses Fighting Piracy

Joshua R. Thomas — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:55:16 -0400

David Foran, a foreign service officer with the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, answers questions in a June 30 CO.NX webchat on fighting naval piracy in the 21st century.

AGOA Forum Seeks to Expand U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment

Charles W. Corey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:00:56 -0400

The eighth African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, August 4–6, seeks to increase trade and investment between the United States and Africa. Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson says the Obama administration will strengthen ties with the region.

Peace Corps: “Born in America, but Learned to Walk in Ghana”

Phillip Kurata — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:48:55 -0400

The Peace Corps, one of President John F. Kennedy’s shining achievements, turns 48 years old this year. Ghana, the first country to receive Peace Corps volunteers, has kept volunteers without interruption since then. As the Peace Corp and Ghana have matured, the relationship has grown stronger.

New Technologies Strengthening Africa’s Economy

Megan Neff — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:21:41 -0400

Across Africa, new technologies are strengthening the continent’s infrastructure and economy. Using information and communication technologies , such as mobile phones and the Internet, Africans are finding business and trade to be easier and more affordable.

Zambian Musicians Sing Obama Lyrics in “Change We Can Believe In”

Hannah E. Adewumi — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:12:28 -0400

President Obama’s inauguration speech is put to music by a group of Zambian musicians performing the song “Change We Can Believe In.” The song is aired on local radio and television stations and offered as a download on Zamtunes, inspiring young people to participate in local elections.

Guinea Worm Eradication Program Gets Results in Ghana

Lauren Caldwell — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:24:28 -0400

The Carter Center and health workers in Ghana have nearly eliminated a parasitic disease that has affected millions in Africa and Asia. Local volunteers using simple methods are close to making Guinea worm disease the first disease to be eliminated without vaccines or medicines.

United States Seeks Expanded Economic Growth in Africa

Merle David Kellerhals Jr. — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:27:20 -0400

A central objective of U.S. trade relations with sub-Saharan Africa is to create a platform for expanded African economic growth, senior U.S. trade official Florizelle Liser tells a congressional hearing.

Zambian Videographer Represents Africa in Democracy Video Contest

Sara Veldhuizen Stealy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:26:45 -0400

Zambian videographer Chansa Tembo’s video Fruit Smoothie is Africa’s winning entry in the Democracy Video Challenge, a worldwide online competition that asked videographers to complete the phrase “Democracy is…” in a three-minute video posted on the competition’s YouTube site.

Special Envoy Gration Briefs on Recent Trip to Sudan

simmonsjx — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:13:30 -0400

U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan J. Scott Gration briefs the press on the current status of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and his recent trips.

Sudanese Aid Restored, but U.S. Warns of Tight Political Timeline

Stephen Kaufman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:53:36 -0400

Humanitarian aid to Sudan has been restored after 13 organizations were expelled, but a U.S. official warns that suffering continues and there is much work to be done to improve the environment ahead of national elections and a referendum on southern Sudanese independence.

Lawyer Rescues Trafficking Victims in South Africa, Mozambique

Jane Morse — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:49:03 -0400

A casual café conversation led a Mozambican lawyer to risk his own life to fight for the rescue of girls trafficked to South Africa to be kept as sex slaves.

United States Seeks to Encourage Democracy, Growth in Zimbabwe

Stephen Kaufman — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:41:25 -0400

President Obama meets with Zimbabwe’s prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, at the White House to commend him for the progress his unity government has made under “very difficult circumstances.” The president also says the United States is providing $73 million in assistance to the Zimbabwean people.

United States Supports New Approach to Tackling Global Hunger

Kathryn Mcconnell — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:22:57 -0400

President Obama, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in coming weeks will begin reaching out to other aid donors, nonprofit groups, universities and businesses for best practices that can be used in a new approach to ending global hunger.

Ethiopian American Wins 2009 World Food Prize

Kathryn McConnell — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:51:30 -0400

American Gebisa Ejeta, a plant breeder and geneticist who was born and grew up in rural Ethiopia, has won the 2009 World Food Prize. The Purdue University professor’s work with sorghum has dramatically enhanced the food supply of hundreds of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Obama’s Cairo Speech Resonates with Africans, State’s Carson Says

Charles W. Corey — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:33:08 -0400

There was widespread interest across sub-Saharan Africa in President Obama’s June 4 speech from Cairo because its themes resonated with Africans who look forward to participating in a “new dialogue” with the United States, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says.

African Countries Must Compete for Investment Capital

Charles W. Corey — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:32:44 -0400

Africa faces competition for U.S. investment capital in a highly competitive global marketplace, but the continent also is seen by many American business executives as a market that cannot be ignored — the “last frontier for growth,” a new report says.

President Obama’s Statement on Death of Gabon’s President Bongo

Helen I. Rouce — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:10:36 -0400

President Obama offers condolences on behalf of the American people upon the death of President Omar Bongo of Gabon.

White House Statement on Visit of Zimbabwean Prime Minister

Helen I. Rouce — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:08:26 -0400

The White House announces that President Obama will welcome Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe to the Oval Office on Friday, June 12.

U.S. Global Partnerships Key in Fighting Drug-Resistant TB

Kelly Daniel — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:23:13 -0400

Partnerships among U.S. government agencies, private entities, research institutions and other governments are at the center of global efforts to conquer the threat of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis.

President Obama’s Remarks at Cairo University, Egypt

safiae — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:56:04 -0400

President Barack Obama makes remarks at Cairo University, Egypt.

Congolese Soccer Player Scores for Oregon College

Crystal G. Ofori — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:58:52 -0400

Congo-born Danny Mwanga, a graduate of Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon, was one of the top-rated soccer forwards in the country in 2008. For Danny, scoring soccer goals was the easy part; verifying his transcripts from local schools in his war-torn homeland was much more difficult.

International Community Uniting Against Pirates, Official Says

Lauren Caldwell — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:04:53 -0400

The U.S. government is working with international partners to thwart rising piracy off the coast of Somalia. A State Department official says the number of countries committing resources to the battle against pirates is increasing.

High-Level Engagement with Africa Has Started

Charles W. Corey — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:05:56 -0400

“High-level engagement has already started” between the Obama administration and Africa, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says May 19. “The ties that bind the United States and Africa are stronger and more enduring today than they have ever been,” he says.

Tanzanian President Welcomed at White House

Charles W. Corey — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:48:11 -0400

President Obama welcomed Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete as the first African head of state to visit him at the White House May 21. The leaders enjoyed “a valuable discussion on a range of issues,” the White House announced.

U.S. Conducting High-Level Strategic Review of Somalia Strategy

Jim Fisher-Thompson — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:49:14 -0400

In Somalia, the United States is determined to support the policy of political reconciliation spearheaded by the beleaguered Transitional Federal Government, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson tells Congress. He also says a policy review on Somalia now is under way.

African Films Vie for Honors in Democracy Video Challenge

Susan Domowitz — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:38:46 -0400

The public is invited to vote for the winners of the Democracy Video Challenge from now through June 15. Three of the finalists are films from Africa – from Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda and Zambia.

Obama Seeks $1.42 Billion for Millennium Aid Agency in 2010

Kathryn McConnell — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:36:52 -0400

President Obama is asking Congress to increase funding for the Millennium Challenge Corporation by 63 percent. The request shows that the administration supports MCC’s focus on anti-corruption in tackling global poverty, says Alicia Phillips Mandaville, a senior policy associate at the MCC.

United States Aiding Victims of Gender-Based Violence in Africa

Jim Fisher-Thompson — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:39:19 -0400

The underlying issue of gender inequality that leads to violence against women in civil conflicts is a problem in many parts of the world, but there is a difference in “scope and intensity” of the violence in some African nations, a State Department official tells Congress.

Independent Electoral Commissions Strengthen Democracy in Africa

Jim Fisher-Thompson — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:59:27 -0400

Independent electoral commissions help African nations provide a level playing field during elections while building a foundation for the sustainability of democracy on the continent, democracy activists say. A former U.S. ambassador and other observers comment on the commissions’ value.

U.S. Africa Command Seeking Sustained Security Engagement

Merle David Kellerhals Jr. — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:59:08 -0400

For African nations, the role of the U.S. Africa Command will be one of “sustained security engagement” as a more reliable partner across the continent, says Ambassador Mary Yates, the command’s deputy for civil-military activities.

New Research Reveals Droughts Common in West Africa

Daniel Gorelick — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:44:54 -0400

The decades-long drought that began in West Africa in the 1960s is not an anomaly compared with what the region has faced during the last three millennia. Scientists are researching ways to predict the frequency and severity of future droughts.

Commercial Fleet Owners Ask U.S. Congress for Solutions on Piracy

Kathryn McConnell — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:58:30 -0400

Some members of the commercial shipping industry tell the U.S. Congress they want legal authority to carry armed security personnel on their vessels as a defense against pirates. But other specialists and government officials are cautious about arming merchant ships.

Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Carson Takes Office

Charles W. Corey — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:29:19 -0400

While advances have taken place in Africa in democracy and governance, economic development and resolution of conflicts, more progress must be made, as “the greatest moments in Africa’s long history have not yet been written,” says Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

Obama Proposes Massive Global Health Initiative

Merle David Kellerhals Jr. — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:36:26 -0400

The United States is launching a six-year global health initiative that will help some of the poorest regions of the world fight health challenges that kill people who could otherwise be saved with improved health care, says President Obama.

Anti-Piracy Efforts Along Africa Coast Show Some Success

Charles W. Corey — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:45:35 -0400

Efforts to blunt maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden are beginning to show some success, but there is an international consensus that more must be done, a State Department officials tells a congressional committee.

Young Mariners Get Up-Close Lesson in Thwarting Pirates

Matt Herrick — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:05:10 -0400

Massachusetts Maritime Academy and other merchant marine institutions are preparing cadets to mitigate the threats posed by pirates off the coasts of Africa, South America and East Asia, as acts of piracy grow in number and daring.