Bureau of African Affairs

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Africa's Hot News! Check out news on DROC, Somalia, Sudan.  Watch the Daily Press Briefing and read other releases on Africa. 

Somalia – Condemnation of Terrorist Attacks
(Oct. 29): The United States condemns the terrorist attacks in Somaliland and Puntland. Statement

Zimbabwe Impasse
(Oct. 29): The United States regrets that the six-week impasse over implementation of the September 15 power-sharing agreement for Zimbabwe was not resolved at the October 27 Southern African Development Community-hosted talks. Statement

Humanitarian Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(Oct. 28): The United States is deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Full Text 

U.S. International Avian and Pandemic Influenza Assistance Approaches $950 Million
(Oct. 25): The U.S. is the largest single donor to the collaborative international effort to contain outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in domestic and wild birds in 62 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and to prepare for a potentially devastating global pandemic should the virus mutate to allow human-to-human transmission. Full Text

Abduction of Workers in South Kordofan State, Sudan
(Oct. 21): The United States expresses its deep concern for the well-being of nine Chinese and Sudanese workers reportedly kidnapped on October 18 in South Kordofan State.  The parties responsible for the kidnapping must release the workers immediately and without harm.  Full Text

Mauritania: Travel Restrictions
(Oct. 17): The Secretary of State on October 16, 2008 imposed travel restrictions to the United States on certain members of the military junta and the government, as well as other individuals who support policies or actions that undermine Mauritania’s return to constitutional rule.  Full Text

U.S. Department of State Partners with Sudanese Integrated Mine Action Service
(Oct. 14): The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) recently awarded a $200,200 grant to the Sudanese Integrated Mine Action Service (SIMAS) for humanitarian mine action and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training in Southern Sudan. Full Text

Status of Hijacked Ukrainian Freighter Near Somalia
(Oct. 9): Question: What recent contacts/discussions have we had with Russia on the freighter? Full Text

Statements by General Nkunda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(Oct. 6): The U.S. calls on the international community to support the GDRC as it works to consolidate its democracy and capacity to govern justly its entire territory.  The U.S. opposes all those who seek to foment instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Full Text

U.S. Agency for International Development:  Summary of Decision on Marie Stopes International (Taken Question)
(Oct. 2): Question: Did USAID discontinue the provision of US-funded contraceptive commodities to the NGO Marie Stopes International (MSI)?  Full Text

Somali Piracy
(Oct. 2): Taken Question: Has the Somali foreign ministry granted the United States, or any other country, permission to use force against pirates operating in Somali sovereign waters? Full Text 

African Affairs Bureau Marks 50th Anniversary
The AF Bureau is 50 years old this year. Its story is one of support for the U.S. ideal of equality, domestically and overseas.
(Oct. 3) Event: National Museum of African Art