The days are long for the women of Yeumbeul, a village on the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal. But after hours of selling fruit in the market, house chores and caretaking for their families, they flock eagerly to the local community center for evening literacy classes. Among them is twenty-year old Kewe Ndiayea, who dreams of becoming a fashion designer, but was forced to leave the school at age eleven when her family could no longer afford the $2 monthly tuition. Today, literacy classes are helping her make this dream a reality, and now Kewe is determined to become the next Diouma Dieng Diakhate, the Senegalese couturier cum political activist.
The Senegal courses are part of the UNESCO Global Partnership for Girls' and Women's Education, a groundbreaking initiative launched in May 2011 that leverages public-private partnerships to address gender disparities in literacy… more »
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Dakar, Senegal on August 1, 2012. The Secretary met with President Macky Sall and other national leaders, as well as delivered a speech applauding the resilience of Senegal's democratic institutions and highlighting America's approach to partnership.
During her remarks, Secretary Clinton said, "...Throughout my trip across Africa this week, I will be talking about... a model of sustainable partnership that adds value rather than extracts it. That's America's commitment to Africa. The Obama… more »
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Africa, July 31 through August 10, 2012. On her trip, she will make stops in Senegal, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa. Throughout the trip, Secretary Clinton will emphasize U.S. policy commitments outlined in the Presidential Policy Directive -- to strengthen democratic institutions, spur economic growth, advance peace and security, as well as promote opportunity and development for all citizens.
In Senegal, Secretary Clinton will meet President Sall and other national leaders, as well as deliver a speech applauding the resilience of Senegal's democratic institutions and… more »
There is something special about seeing American jazz played in Africa: The audience responds in a unique way -- as do the musicians performing the music.
Such was the case at the recent St. Louis Jazz Festival: St. Louis, Senegal, that is. The former capital of French Africa and a UNESCO world heritage site, the city is known for its crumbling but still-captivating architecture on the mile-long island on the border of Mauritania. The festival, the most important of its kind in Africa, celebrated its 20th year last week. The brand-new Minister of Culture, Youssou Ndour, otherwise known as one of Africa's leading artists, declared for the first time that the festival's tickets would be free.
During the opening ceremony, Ndour handed the U.S. Embassy an award to show the appreciation for our contributions to jazz over the years. In years past, jazz greats,… more »
As Senegal today celebrates the 52nd anniversary of its independence, I just returned from the inauguration of the country's new president, Macky Sall. Last Thursday, I was honored to receive a call from the White House asking me, on behalf of President Obama, to lead the official U.S. delegation attending his inauguration. Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and General Carter Ham, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, joined me on the delegation, which was rounded out on the ground by our U.S. Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, Lewis Lukens.
The delegation represented agencies which carry out the three… more »
When I arrived in Senegal last August, I knew that it would be an exciting year for this nation's democracy, but I don't think anybody could have predicted the path that Senegalese took to get to where they are today. Much of the population rose up in protest to attempted changes to the constitution last year on June 23 (a date now immortalized by a civil society movement called Movement 23, or M23).
Since last June, Senegal's democracy has seemed more fragile than ever before during its 52-year history. Yet today, Senegal has a new President-elect, Macky Sall, after current President Abdoulaye Wade graciously conceded defeat last night. Senegal's strong tradition of democracy and vibrant civil society shone through again.
On February 26, I had the honor and privilege of accompanying Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, as… more »
Since its independence, Senegal has been one of America's strongest and most consistent friends in francophone West Africa. Our relationship has been based on a shared set of principles and ideals: democracy and respect for civil liberty and human rights.
On Saturday, February 25, I was pleased to come back to Senegal, where I had the pleasure of leading a delegation of more than 50 American observers who traveled throughout Senegal, visiting many of the more than 10,000 polling stations, to watch as Senegalese citizens exercised their democratic rights.
This was definitely an important election to observe. In Washington, I had followed developments in Senegal with interest; watching as this traditionally peaceful model of stability had begun to erupt with protests, eventually leading to more than 10 deaths. I knew that I had to come and do my part to ensure… more »
Thank you, Jonathan, for this insightful post on World Food Day and the importance of strengthening our efforts as an international community to end world hunger…
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Spokesperson Nuland (Oct. 17): "Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Michael Posner, led a 22-member interagency delegation from the U.S. to discuss the full range of human rights issues affecting the country." more »
Oct. 16: Judith Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, held a conversation with Ann Cody, Director of Policy and Global Outreach, BlazeSports; and Kirk Bauer, Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA. more »
![Image used by UNESCO to promote women's literacy, September 2012. [UNESCO Image/ Used by Permission]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121019001532im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0919_unesco_always_m.jpg)
![Secretary Clinton boards plane in Beirut, Lebanon, April 26, 2009. [State Department Photo]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121019001532im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0716_clinton_departs_m.jpg)
![Devin Phillips Quartet performs at the 20th St. Louis Jazz Festival in Senegal, May 25, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121019001532im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0530_stlouis_jazz_senegal_m.jpg)
![A Peace Corps Volunteer works with a hospital in Senegal to grow gardens in order to provide vitamins to patients who cannot afford pills. [Peace Corps photo]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121019001532im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0426_food_m.jpg)
![MCC CEO Daniel Yohannes, second from right, meets with members of Senegalese civil society, March 2012. [MCC photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121019001532im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0404_mcc_senegal_m.jpg)
![A woman votes at a polling station in Senegal, March 25, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121019001532im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0326_senegal_elections_m.jpg)
![Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson observes elections in Dakar, Senegal, February 26, 2012. [U.S. Embassy photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121019001532im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0228_carson_senegal_m.jpg)
