Embassy of the United States Tunis, Tunisia

As Prepared Version - April 28/29, 2010

At the Forum International de Realites, Tunis
“Europe, the Maghreb and Africa: for a New Global Partnership"

Thank you very much for the invitation to participate in this panel today.  The Forum is an opportunity for me to gain useful insights that I will share with my colleagues in Washington, and I look forward to your questions and comments.  I hope that the discussion will enable us to focus on areas of cooperation and coordination to partner with African nations for the benefit of Africans.

There are significant current and future challenges for the African continent and its people – challenges that will test their mettle and the commitment of those of us in the international community who seek to work closely with African leaders, non-governmental organizations, the business community, religious and other organizations.

President Obama has made clear that the United States views Africa as our partner and a partner of the international community.  Our work with the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the Administration’s top foreign policy concerns. 

One of the cornerstones of our policy in Africa is multilateral engagement. Real progress in sub-Saharan Africa will only be achieved if the U.S. joins its efforts with those of multilateral organizations and international partners. We are not rivals with European governments or even with China in Africa. Cooperation, not competition, defines our approach. We have already begun important conversations with the EU, France, Great Britain and Canada, and have extended an invitation to a dialogue to China. Last week a large delegation from the African Union went to Washington for the first of annual high-level meetings. The U.S. is deeply committed to fostering the growth of institutions in Africa – like the AU, and also sub-regional organizations that seek to build peace and security, economic development and good governance.

The Administration has pledged to double foreign assistance by 2014, believing that development remains a cornerstone of global economic progress. However, additional assistance will not automatically produce success across the continent. Instead, success will be defined by how well we work together as partners to build Africa’s capacity for long-term change and ultimately the elimination of the continued need for such assistance. African leaders and countries must take control of their futures. As President Obama noted in Ghana, “Africa’s future is up to Africans.”

The five priorities guiding our efforts are:

1. democracy and good governance,
2. economic opportunity,
3. health,
4. conflict resolution, and
5. transnational challenges and threats.

Strengthened Democratic Institutions and Good Governance

We are working with African governments, the international community, and civil society to strengthen democratic institutions and protect the democratic gains made in recent years in many African countries.

• A key element in Africa’s transformation is sustained commitment to democracy, rule of law, anti-corruption, and constitutional norms. Some African nations have made significant progress in this area. Botswana, Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritius, and South Africa are a few examples of countries committed to democracy. But progress in this area must be more widespread, and the U.S. is supporting those efforts.

Sustained Economic Development and Growth

Although we have seen notable economic progress in many parts of Africa, as a whole sub-Saharan Africa remains the world’s poorest region and the least integrated into the global economic system. Africa’s huge oil and mineral wealth has done little to diminish the continent’s overall poverty or to make it a significant player in global trade. These economic problems contribute to instability, which has an impact on the United States and the global community.

• A key factor in Africa’s future economic success is the full inclusion of women in all areas of the economy. This begins with educating girls. In Sub-Saharan Africa girls’ dropout rates are staggering at the secondary education level, thereby limiting their future economic participation.
• During his speech in Ghana, President Obama made it clear that we intend to pursue a development strategy that provides opportunities for more people in Africa. The two cornerstones of the U.S. strategy to support Africa’s economic development have been the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), which includes compacts or grant agreements worth $3.8 billion dollars with 10 African countries, and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides trade benefits to 40 African nations.

Food Security

Within the framework of economic development, food security must be the goal.  We must work to revitalize Africa’s agricultural sector, which employs more than 70 percent of Africans directly or indirectly. The Administration’s new $3.5 billion Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative (GHFSI) will focus on providing critical tools to build local capacity to end hunger and expand production. The United States is also exploring ways to promote African private sector growth and investment, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

• We cannot, however, do this alone. African governments must also play their part in reducing corruption, improving their regulatory environments, and adopting more pro-growth economic policies.
• Together we also need to think outside the box, applying 21st century science and technology. Employing new technologies, such as using cell phones to relay information about weather and markets, we can expand the network required to improve food production and supply.

Improved Health

The continent continues to suffer from the ravages of HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. These diseases have had a profound effect in many African countries, lowering life expectancies, destroying families, and creating millions of orphans across the continent.

• HIV/AIDS has been particularly devastating in Africa. The Obama Administration has pledged to continue the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program and to commit an additional $63 billion to meet public health challenges throughout Africa.

Conflict Resolution

Africa has made significant strides in resolving some major conflicts, but serious clashes continue to occur in several parts of the continent.

• Conflicts in Guinea, Somalia, Sudan, the DRC and Madagascar create not only internal instability, but regional instability. The United States is working to help mitigate these conflicts through a series of measures, for example, in Sudan and the Great Lakes, and with support for African leaders and institutions such as the African Union.
• Africa is doing its part, too. We commend countries like Nigeria and South Africa for their active role in conflict resolution.

Global Challenges and Transnational Threats

These problems – like narcotics trafficking, illegal migration, climate change, and violent extremism – jump across national borders and defy easy solutions.

• On climate change, the Copenhagen Accord agreed to in December represents an essential and meaningful step forward by the global community to combat climate change and its impacts. African nations stand to benefit greatly from the Accord, which includes provisions for increased resources and assistance on mitigation, adaptation, technology and forests. Expanded engagement on science and technology will support African nations to find solutions to environmental challenges.
• The increased activity by transnational extremist groups and local movements aligned with al-Qaeda, which take advantage of weak governments and poorly trained security services in sub-Saharan Africa is a major concern for the international community.

Note: Delete the above paragraph, but keep the text on hand for the Q&A. One question we are consistently asked is about reconciling our support to quasi-democratic governments with our commitments to human rights and democracy. This paragraph uses A/S Carson’s words to address that issue.

International Commitment to Build Capacity and Ensure Stability

The Obama Administration believes in and is committed to Africa’s future. The needs are great, and change will only come about through sustained cooperation, partnering with African nations that are focused on good governance and economic opportunity, as well as with the international community. This positive vision requires responsible African leadership, good governance and transparency, accountability and the rule of law, along with environmental leadership and effective management of resources.

Thank you.