| |  Bureau of African Affairs Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer leads the Bureau of African Affairs, the division of the Department of State that advises the Secretary about sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Frazer believes that we are living in an historic window of opportunity. For example, in the last five years, we have seen belligerence yield to negotiation in six contentious settings: Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the North-South element of the Sudan crisis. Formerly divided by conflict, Burundi now has an elected government up and running. The Democratic Republic of Congo has similarly moved beyond transition to successfully hold its first national election in more than 40 years. This is an historical shift. In the years ahead, African leaders face three key challenges: consolidating democratic gains, expanding economic growth, and stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Africa on Video - Learn more about current U.S. policy on Africa
|
|
 Embassy Anniversary: Bombing of U.S. Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam
Secretary Rice (Aug. 7): "Ten years ago al-Qaida may have destroyed two embassies, but they did not destroy the ties that bind the American, Kenyan, and Tanzanian people. They did not destroy our spirit. Indeed, their attacks only strengthened the ties between our nations. Today, we remain partners with the people of Tanzania and Kenya. And I witnessed the spirit of that partnership when I visited both Kenya and Tanzania earlier this year. Secure new Embassies have now been built in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, reflecting the enduring strength of these relationships. Bombs and bullets and terror can never – and will never – break our bond." Full text | Fact Sheet
|
|
|
 Mauritania : Military Coup
Secretary Rice (Aug. 6): "We call on the military to release President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi and Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghef and to restore the legitimate, constitutional, democratically-elected government immediately. The United States looks to all of our international partners to condemn this anti-democratic action." Full text
|
|
|
|
African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum
The 7th AGOA Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, July 14-16 in Washington, D.C.
 Secretary Rice (July 15, 2008): "But one of the most important accomplishments, one that I’ve been proudest to work for, is what we’ve done with you, my African friends and my colleagues....President Bush and I are proud of the dramatic increases in support to Africa that we have achieved since 2001: quadrupling U.S. foreign assistance, billions of dollars of debt relief for Africa’s 27 poorest nations, launching the Millennium Challenge Account initiative, signing nearly $4.3 billion worth of MCC compacts with ten African nations, and forging historic partnerships to fight HIV/AIDS and malaria. Ultimately, though, we measure the success of our partnership with Africa not in dollars, but in the lives that we have sought to improve." Full text
DAS Moss (July 1): "The future of Sub-Saharan Africa continues to look brighter, as we're seeing a growing number of countries begin to reap the benefits of sound, economic policy changes, improved governance and new investments in key sectors undertaken over the last decade. With the continued growth of responsible and representative governments in Africa and the recovery from several lengthy conflicts on the continent, much of Africa now is poised to see much more robust economic growth and an improvement in living standards." Full text | Regional Topics - AGOA
|
|
|
2007 Human Rights Report
Secretary Rice: "A nation’s path to a future of human rights protected by law is neither smooth nor straight. Along the way, there are bound to be stumbles and setbacks. Even under the best of circumstances, it is not easy to transform democratic ideals into effective democratic institutions. Yet despite every challenge, the courageous champions of human rights persevere. They are an inspiration to their fellow citizens and to all of us. The high standard that they set continues to give hope to people everywhere who work peacefully for their liberty, their dignity, and their rights." Human Rights Report, 2007 | AFRICA Only
Trafficking in Persons: Interim Assessments
The 2007 Interim Assessment covers: Central African Republic, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, South Africa, Togo. 2007 Report
Advancing Freedom and Democracy Reports, May 2008 | AFRICA ONLY
View more reports | | | Highlights |  Sign up for Africa email updates.
Africa's Hot News! Check out news on Somalia, Zambia. Watch the Daily Press Briefing and read other releases on Africa. View last month's releases...
Passing of Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa
Secretary Rice (Aug. 19): President Mwanawasa’s passing is a great loss for Zambia and Africa. He served his country well at the highest levels of government for many years and was a trusted and key partner of the United States in the region. Full text
Somalia – Murder of World Food Program Official
(Aug. 19): The United States condemns the murder of Abdulkadir Diad Mohamed, an administration and finance assistant for the World Food Program in Mogadishu, Somalia. We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to Mohamed’s family and colleagues. Full text
Handover of the Bakassi Peninsula
(Aug. 12): The United States commends the Government of Cameroon and the Government of Nigeria for their commitment to the peaceful handover of the Bakassi peninsula on August 14, 2008. Full text
Remarks at Tenth Anniversary Commemoration
(Aug. 7): Secretary Rice delivers remarks on the embassy bombings from ten years ago in the Dean Acheson at the State Department. Full text | Fact Sheet
Mauritania: Military Coup
(Aug. 6): The United States condemns the Mauritanian military’s overthrow of the democratically-elected Government of Mauritania and welcomes the statements by the African Union and the European Union condemning the coup. Full text
Commemoration of the Tenth Anniversary of the U.S. Embassy Bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam
(Aug. 6): The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. missions in Kenya and Tanzania will commemorate the tenth anniversary of the bombings of the U.S embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on August 7, 2008. Media Note | Notice to the Press
Conventional Weapons Destruction and Landmine Clearance in Somalia
(Aug. 4): The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U. S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs has launched a $1.4 million conventional weapons destruction program, which will also include the clearance of landmines and explosive remnants of war throughout heavily affected areas of northern Somalia. Full text |
|
