Senegal

Ambassadors Johnnie Carson, Princeton Lyman and George Moose, all of whom now are affiliated with USIP, outlined the priorities that will need to be addressed at the Aug. 4-6 Summit and beyond to achieve the improved security, governance and trade and investment that Africa needs. Leaders of most of Africa’s 54 nations will meet as a group not only with Obama but also with Cabinet members and chief executive officers of major American companies that are potential investors and trading partners.

“Growth rates in Africa are accelerating, and have continued to accelerate despite the financial doldrums that the global community has seen since 2008,” said former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, who left the State Department in March after almost four years in office and has joined the U.S. Institute of Peace as special adviser to Institute President Jim Marshall. Carson commented on the president’s coming trip for reporters in a briefing at USIP on June 24.

One president expressed support for reducing the term of his office to five years from seven. Another said she was determined to continue unpopular but necessary reforms even if it costs her re-election. A third has pulled his police and military forces through security sector reform. And a prime minister has eight women among his 15 government ministers.

Sierra Leone, Senegal, Malawi and Cape Verde all have made significant progress toward promoting democratic reform. These four countries’ heads of state will share the stage at the United States Institute of Peace for an important conversation on the link between good governance and increasing prosperity in their countries and across Africa.