Kenya: Let the People Decide - Congressional Black Caucus
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement today on the upcoming Kenyan constitutional referendumAugust 4, 2010 will be an historic day for the people of Kenya. Citizens across the country will vote on a new Constitution, paving the way for a more democratic and stable country. Kenyans have worked tirelessly in a peaceful and transparent process of drafting a new Constitution. According to the Constitution of Kenya Review Act of 2008, the process “accommodates the diversity of the people of Kenya, including socio economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, religious faith, age, occupation, learning, persons with disabilities and disadvantaged.” The Act also established a Committee of Experts and a Parliamentary Select Committee.
Liberia: U.S. Couple Refutes ACFI Child Trafficking Allegation
An American couple has strongly reacted to claims of allegations made against the African Christian Fellowship International (ACFI) regarding child trafficking under the church’s adoption program.
Togo: Activist Attends Forum With Young African Leaders
A young community activist in Togo, Koffi Amegbo Nomedji, believes that his participation in President Obama's Forum with Young African Leaders in Washington August 3-5 will spur his work in developing his homeland.
Africa: Thirty-Four African Businesswomen Attending Agoa Forum
Thirty-four African women entrepreneurs are participating in the 2010 U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum -- better known as the AGOA Forum -- and the African Women's Entrepreneurship Forum to further enhance the U.S.-Africa trade relationship by expanding their businesses and increasing economic growth in their own countries.
Sierra Leone: Youth Attending Obama's Young African Leaders Forum
A young Sierra Leonean working to improve his nation by strengthening civil society and job creation will share his ideas about Africa's future with President Obama as he attends the President's Forum with Young African Leaders August 3-5.
Africa: AGOA Forum Highlights 'New Strategies for a Changing World'
The ninth annual United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, better known as the AGOA Forum, includes two new elements this year.
Namibia: Theater Director to Attend Obama's Young Leaders Forum
A Namibian performing artist and director who uses music, dance and the stage to spread a message of hope and self-improvement to his nation's youth says he is proud to have been chosen to attend President Obama's Forum with Young African Leaders.
Uganda: Museveni Has Not Become a Dictator - Carson
THE US assistant secretary of state for Africa, Johnny Carson, has said President Yoweri Museveni has not turned into a dictator as he had predicted five years ago.
Africa: Aids 2010 Calls for Resources, Ends With Strong Science Findings
Universal access to treatment, progress in scientific understanding of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the importance of human rights in responding to the disease highlighted the 18th International AIDS Conference.
South Africa: U.S. Wants Nation in Somalia Stability Effort
SA COULD play a positive role in quelling the rising terrorist insurgency in Somalia, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson said yesterday.
Uganda: U.S. Warns Against Attack on Political Freedoms
The government should not use the July 11 terrorist attacks in Kampala as an excuse to stifle civil liberties and compromise democratic gains, a top American diplomat has cautioned.
Africa: U.S. Officials Deliver Briefing on AU Summit
The following is full text of a briefing delivered by Assistant Secretary of State on African Affairs Johnnie Carson, and U.S. Ambassador to the African Union Michael Battle via teleconference.
Uganda: Why We Should Pull Out of Somalia
Since Uganda was bombed on 7/11, Al-Shabaab "terrorist" group in Somali claimed responsibility. There has been a lot of tough talk in Kampala. President Yoweri Museveni has promised to hit back at Al-Shabaab by increasing our troops in that country. Many Ugandans support the government in its posturing for a "surge."
Somalia: U.S. MIlitary Steps Up Support for AU Force
The United States military command for Africa (Africom) is gaining acceptance on the continent and is planning to increase its support for the African Union force in Somalia, the command's leader said last week.
Africa: Tenth Agoa Forum is a Time to Assess U.S.-Africa Trade
The 10th annual United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, known as the AGOA Forum, convenes its ministerial meeting in Washington August 2, offering an excellent opportunity to look at U.S.-Africa trade today and agree on new strategies for tomorrow.
Africa: Reshaping Health with Leadership and Country Programs
This week Uganda is hosting the AU Heads of State Summit, with a focus on "Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa." At a time when most health news showcases the efforts of major western donors like the Gates Foundation, the AU Summit shows African leaders' commitment to developing priorities and programs that strengthen both national and regional health systems.
Africa: U.S. Attorney General Holder's Remarks at African Union Summit in Kampala
The following remarks were issued by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at the African Union Summit in Kampala.
Africa: Partner Countries Must be Held Responsible for Their Populations, Says Head of Pepfar
The US president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has committed about US$32 billion to the global fight against HIV since its launch in 2003, making it the largest donor for HIV/AIDS globally. Following annual increases in contributions, however, PEPFAR has effectively flat-lined funding from 2009.
Ghana: Storm in an Oil Barrel Over the Kosmos-ExxonMobil Sale
The grand launch of Ghana's commercial oil production this year has begun inauspiciously with a bruising battle between the government and the state oil company on one hand and American oil company Kosmos Energy on the other (AC Vol 51 No 7). Kosmos had announced last September that it wanted to sell its stake in the country's Jubilee oil field to the giant ExxonMobil corporation in an exclusive deal for US$4.2 billion. Since then, President John Atta Mills's government has blocked the deal, initially because of a complex dispute between the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and Kosmos about the company's use of Ghana's geophysical data in the sale negotiations.
Africa: Secretary Clinton's Message to International Aids Conference
Secretary Clinton today sent a video message to the International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria. This biennial conference brings together scientists, policy makers, advocates, persons living with HIV, and others working to end the global AIDS epidemic. More than 25,000 people have gathered in the past week to discuss the current state of research, policy, and implementation of measures to combat AIDS, and chart a path forward to continue progress against this disease. A transcript of the Secretary's remarks follows:
Africa: U.S. Attorney General Sets Program to Combat Overseas Corruption
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Obama administration is launching an initiative to recover funds lost to overseas public corruption, and that it will seek to build on its existing efforts to deter high-level corruption and protect public resources.
Africa: Rwandan Peace Activist Sees Education As Key to Brighter Future
Ariane Inkesha has a vision that 50 years from now Africa will have been transformed by education.
Africa: Young Togolese Hopes to Gauge Obama's Vision for Africa
Dede Marthe Woamede from Togo will attend the President's Forum with Young African Leaders, hosted by President Obama at the White House August 3-5, and says she hopes to gauge his vision for Africa, the continent the president has ties to because of his Kenyan father.
Africa: Young Lawyer Hopes to Use White House Meeting to Improve Angola
Angolan lawyer and human rights activist Luis Kandangongo Jimbo looks forward to attending President Obama's Forum with Young African Leaders to gain tips on how to work with civil society in furthering good governance.
Africa: Attacks in Uganda Show Need for Stability in Somalia, Envoy Says
The top U.S. envoy to Africa says the July 11 bombings in Kampala, Uganda, constitute a "wake-up call" to East African nations and the international community, warning that continued instability in Somalia now can affect that country's neighbors in the form of terrorism, as well as through continuing illegal arms smuggling and refugees.
Africa: U.S. is to Partner Against Terrorism
US Attorney General Eric Holder says the US intends to serve as a collaborator and a partner, rather than patron and monitor, as it assists African nations to overcome their challenges.
Nigeria: Nation, U.S. Partner On Cultural Relations
The Nigerian government and that of the United States of America, (USA) have concluded plans to exchange cultures and values of the two nations through exchange of movie documentaries. This according to the two countries is to better the image of their respective countries.
Africa: Kleptocrats Be Warned
Africa's kleptocrats must be quaking in their boots following the announcement by the Obama Administration that it will seize, and presumably, repatriate, money stolen by dictators from their countries' coffers and hidden in the US.
Africa: U.S. Will Seize Money Stolen by Corrupt Leaders
The United States will not provide a safe haven for money stolen from Africa by its corrupt leaders, US President Barack Obama said yesterday.
Mozambique: Guebuza Receives U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Monday granted an audience to US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, in Kampala, where Guebuza is attending the heads of state summit of the African Union.