Bureau of African Affairs

African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum (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 | The 7th AGOA Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, July 14-16 in Washington, D.C.

MCC Compact Signing Ceremony With Burkina Faso Secretary Rice (July 14): "This compact reflects the priorities set by the people of Burkina Faso – born out of exhaustive consultations throughout their society, and demonstrating the responsibility that the leaders and the people of Burkina Faso are willing to shoulder for their own development. And this compact will help Burkina Faso to foster strong and sustainable agricultural productivity...." Full Text

7th AGOA Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum 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

Crisis in Zimbabwe (June 23): The United States condemns in the strongest terms the Government of Zimbabwe's continuing campaign of violence against its own people. It is abundantly clear that Mugabe is determined to thwart the will of the people of Zimbabwe as so clearly expressed on March 29. Full text Remarks: Secretary Rice on Zimbabwe | Roundtable on Zimbabwe | DRL Fact Sheet Special Briefing via Digital Video Conference | Evolving Humanitarian Crisis in Zimbabwe | Pretoria Statement | Elections Update

Kenya: Secretary Rice and Kenyan PM Raila Odinga Secretary Rice (June 18): "I’d like to welcome the Prime Minister of Kenya, Prime Minister Odinga. It is very good to have you here. I believe that your election as prime minister shows that the Kenyan people have come through difficult times, but it was really the strength of Kenyan democracy, Kenyan civil society, and the will of Kenya’s leaders to resolve the crisis that brings us to this moment." Full text | Agreement on Composition of Coalition Cabinet | Secretary Rice's statement Assistant Secretary Frazer's Travel to Kenya - January 4 - 14, 2008

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Courageous Voices: Speaking Out for Prisoners of Conscience
(July 23): On July 24, U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Ambassador T. Vance McMahan will moderate a panel discussion at the United Nations in New York to underscore commitments made in the Declaration on Prisoners of Conscience. The panel discussion will feature input from former prisoners of conscience and family members of current prisoners from Belarus, Burma, Cuba, Eritrea, Syria, and Uzbekistan.  Full text 

AGOA Conference in Washington, D.C.
(July 14-16) Seventh annual African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum is held in Washington, D.C. with as many as 41 African countries participating.

American Personnel in Sudan
(July 11): Question: Are any official American personnel stationed outside either the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum or the U.S. Consulate in Juba? Taken Question

MCC and Burkina Faso to Sign New Compact
(July 11): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Chair of the Board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), will give remarks at the signing of the Millennium Challenge Compact between the United States and Burkina Faso on Monday, July 14, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State. Full text

U.S. Leads Ministerial Conference on Transboundary Conservation with Rwanda, DROC, and Uganda
(July 10): Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment and Science Claudia A. McMurray, in conjunction with the Central Albertine Rift Transboundary Core Secretariat will convene a ministerial conference in Gisenyi, Rwanda from July 14-15.  Full text

Seventh U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum
(July 10): The seventh U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (“the African Growth and Opportunity Act [AGOA] Forum”) with the theme of "Mobilizing Private Investment for Trade and Growth" will take place in Washington, D.C., July 14 to 16, 2008.  Full text

Anniversary of CPA Implementation
(July 9): Today marks the mid-point for the six-year implementation of interim measures laid out in Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Full text

U.S. Marks Small Arms Destruction Day
(July 8): Projects helping to destroy additional MANPADS or other conventional weapons (not just small arms), or providing physical security and stockpile management of arms and munitions are underway in Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Lebanon, Montenegro, Uganda, and Ukraine, and with the Regional Center on Small Arms, which has 12 member states from Africa’s Great Lakes and Horn of Africa regions. Full text

U.S. Welcomes Passage of Sudan's Electoral Law
(July 8): We encourage the full participation of all Sudanese in the electoral process, including residents of Darfur and internally displaced persons. We remain committed to supporting the electoral process, and the pursuit of a peaceful and prosperous Sudan.  Full text 

Murder of United Nations Official
(July 7): The United States condemns the murder of Osman Ali Ahmed, Officer in Charge of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mogadishu, Somalia. We offer our sympathy and condolences to Ahmed’s family and colleagues, and appreciate Somali and African Union medical efforts to save Ahmed’s life. Full text

Appointment of New Joint Mediator for Darfur
(July 1): The United States welcomes the appointment of Djibrill Yipene Bassole of Burkina Faso as the Joint United Nations-African Union Chief Mediator for Darfur. We are fully committed to the success of the mediator and will continue to provide support to the Darfur political process to achieve an inclusive peace agreement.  Full text