08 August 2006

United States To Establish Mission to African Union

Move reflects U.S. commitment to the region, U.S. diplomat says

 

Dr. Cindy L. Courville has been nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador-designate to the African Union (AU). (State Dept. photo)

By Charles W. Corey
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The United States will be the first non-African country to establish a separate diplomatic mission to the African Union (AU), and that reflects the U.S. government's commitment to the organization, said Cindy L. Courville, the U.S. ambassador-designate to the AU.

In August 3 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Courville quoted President Bush with regard to Africa: "'Africa holds growing geostrategic importance and is a high priority of this administration. It is a place of promise and opportunity, linked to the United States by history, culture, commerce and strategic significance. Our goal is an African continent that knows liberty, peace, stability and increasing prosperity.'"

If confirmed, Courville said those core convictions will guide her actions.  The U.S. Senate must approve her nomination to head the new U.S. mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, headquarters of the AU.

To overcome the challenges on the continent, Courville said, the United States believes Africa needs partnership, not paternalism; stronger democratic institutions; economic development through greater trade and investment; an atmosphere of peace and stability; and humanitarian assistance that promotes good health.

Courville called democracy, transparency and good governance the "fundamental" parts of a freer Africa.

Freedom is a privilege and a right that all people should have the opportunity to experience, she said, adding that democracy has advanced in more African countries in the last decade than in any other region of the world.

Courville praised the AU as a "force multiplier" for the consolidation of democracy in Africa. "It has pushed its members to increase women's participation and representation as parliamentarians and Cabinet ministers. A democratic, peaceful, stable and economically strong Africa is mutually beneficial to both Africa and the United States," she said.

Additionally, she said, the United States seeks to advance economic development across Africa through greater trade and investment there. She credited the AU for building its economic policy framework on the principles outlined in the New Partnership for Africa's Development, or NEPAD. That program, she told the lawmakers, underscores that Africans must take responsibility for their own development and adopt the economic policies required to attract investment and create jobs. (See related article.)

Courville pledged that, if confirmed, she will work with the African Union in harmony with the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to increase Africa's trade competitiveness and its integration into the global economy, especially by helping the AU reduce intra-African trade barriers and strengthen subregional economic communities such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). (See related article.)

Besides increased trade, peace and stability are also essential to a successful Africa, she said.

For that reason, she said, the United States must work with its African partners to build regional peacekeeping capacity, increase counterterrorism cooperation and enhance disaster mitigation and response capability. She reminded everyone that the United States has supported the AU's two major peacekeeping deployments in Burundi and Sudan.

Courville also called attention to the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program, which she called a "fundamental tool" for increasing the capacity of Africa's subregional organizations. The ACOTA program is increasing the number of countries in which training takes place and has provided training and equipment to more than 40,000 peacekeepers from African partner militaries, she said.

She also cited the Africa Center for Strategic Studies program as a critical tool for strengthening African regional capacity to address political-military issues at a strategic level, improve national security decision-making and strengthen civil-military relationships.  (See related article.)

America's search is not only for a more secure Africa, but also for a healthier Africa, she said. She credited the AU for working to eliminate the scourges of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS on the continent.

The United States contributes nearly half of the resources provided by all donor governments to fight global HIV/AIDS, she said, citing the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a five-year, $15 billion initiative to turn the tide in combating HIV/AIDS pandemic in 15 focus countries, 12 of which are located in sub-Saharan Africa. (See President Bush’s HIV/AIDS Initiatives.)

The United States also stands as the largest bilateral donor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, providing $600 million between 2001 and 2003, she added.

Courville noted that in June 2005, President Bush launched the Malaria Initiative with the goal of reducing malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in targeted African countries. She pledged that, if confirmed, she will continue to work with the AU to help it achieve a healthier Africa.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)