Nick J. Danby
After two nefarious scrambles for Africa during the colonialism of the nineteenth-century and the Cold War in the twentieth century, another surge in foreign activity—another scramble—has affected Africa. With its exponential population and economic potential, governments and corporations from outside Africa have strengthened their relationships on the continent.
Continue reading “More than Just Investment: Why America Was Once So Popular in Africa”
Speaker Pelosi and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus traveled to Ghana’s Central Region to meet with tribal Chiefs and visit the slave dungeons at Elmina and Cape Coast Castles and the “Door of No Return” to observe “The Year of Return.” The delegation laid wreaths at both dungeons in remembrance of the millions who lost their lives and freedom in the transatlantic slave trade.
Continue reading “Pelosi, Congressional Delegation honor Ghana’s Rich Tradition in Ceremony with Paramount Chiefs, visit Historic Slave Sites to mark ‘The Year of Return’”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading a Congressional delegation to Ghana to hold high-level discussions with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, Speaker Mike Oquaye and other senior government officials, and to visit U.S. Army Africa headquarters in Italy. Speaker Pelosi will also deliver an address to the Ghanaian Parliament.
Continue reading “US Congress Speaker Nancy Pelosi Leads Delegation to Ghana and U.S. Army Africa Headquarters”
By Isha Sesay
There are few impenetrable corners left in the world. Today, thanks to globalization, innovations in technology, and the rise of social media, the world feels small, and those living in distant places are increasingly relatable. Unless, of course, we are talking about Africa.
Continue reading “American journalists have duty to report on tragedies in Africa.”
By Howard W. French
Earlier this month, The New York Times created a mini furor on the internet with a job listing for someone to lead its coverage of East Africa. The announcement described it as an opportunity “to dive into news and enterprise across a wide range of countries, from the deserts of Sudan and the pirate seas of the Horn of Africa, down through the forests of Congo and shores of Tanzania.” It went on to speak of the region’s “many vital story lines, including terrorism, the scramble for resources, the global contest with China,” among others.
Continue reading “How to Fix America’s Absentee Diplomacy in Africa”
By Edwin Naidu
Senior United States diplomat Tibor Nagy, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said his country is committed to strengthening ties on the African continent through stronger trade links and investment in higher education.
Nagy, the former vice-provost for international affairs at Texas Tech University in the US, spoke glowingly of the “enduring partnership between the United States and South Africa”.
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By StrategyPage
After five years of negotiations, followed by years of construction delays, the new American airbase in Niger has been completed. Called Airbase 201, it cost $110 million and is one of the most expensive U.S. Air Force foreign airbase construction projects even undertaken. The main purpose of the base is to improve surveillance and intel collection about Islamic terrorists in the region. That will be accomplished by basing UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) there along with some manned aircraft.
By Landry Signé and Eric Olander
The official launch of the Trump Administration’s Prosper Africa program at the Corporate Council on Africa’s U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Mozambique on June 19 comes after months of policy talk about ramping up trade and investment between the United States and African countries. Prosper Africa aligns with the Trump administration’s Africa strategy, introduced by National Security Adviser John Bolton last December, which aims to promote prosperity, security, and stability in U.S.-Africa relations, and confirms the administration’s prioritization of trade and investment to reach those three objectives.
By Chris Harmse
US deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen on Wednesday announced at the opening ceremony of the U.S.-Africa Business Summit on Wednesday in Maputo, that the Trump administration message to Africa is simple and blunt:”
Choose the United States over China and Russia.”
By Kelvin Derby
Two South Florida Democrats on Capitol Hill are teaming up with prominent Republicans–including U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-SC–to strengthen America’s ties with Tunisia.
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., the chairman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, and U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., paired up with Wilson and U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., to bring out a resolution “reaffirming the strong partnership between Tunisia and the United States and supporting the people of the Tunisia in their continued pursuit of democratic reforms.”
If the United States imports its low-value goods from Africa, rather than producing them domestically, then the U.S. economy can focus on what it best produces: high-value specialized goods and services.
By Alexander C. R. Hammond
Africa is about to lend a hand to the United States. Last week, Africa implemented the world’s largest free-trade area, and that’s great news for American foreign policy.
Continue reading “Africa’s New Free-Trade Area is Great News for America”
By Nick Westcott
Does President Donald Trump have a policy on Africa, and if so what? The answer to this question is both interesting and revealing.
President Trump does not seem to pay much attention to Africa. Apart from his well-publicised comments to a group of senators in January 2018 dismissing the whole of Africa as “shithole countries,” he has not said much about the continent.
Continue reading “The Trump administration’s Africa policy”
By Olumide Oyekunle
Corporate Council on Africa, in conjunction with the government of Mozambique, will host the 12th US-Africa Business Summit this year in Maputo with at least 12 African presidents expected to grace the event. The event will take place from June 18 to 21.
Organizers hope to bring more than 1,000 American and African private sector executives, international investors, senior government officials, and multilateral stakeholders.
Kenya’s top officials wrapped their four-day official visit to the United States on a high note after the conclusion of the inaugural Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) framework.
The Kenyan delegation in the US was led by Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma who travelled alongside her Interior counterpart Fred Matiangi and officials from their ministries as well as that of Defense.
Continue reading “Kenya and US sign Bilateral Agreements to strengthen relations”
By Ed Royce and Robin Renee Sanders
Since the U.S. BUILD Act was signed into law last October, many people across Africa as well as members of the Africa Diaspora have been asking what this global initiative might do to help revitalize American engagement with the continent. The answer is: quite a lot!
The goal of BUILD or the — “Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act” – is exactly what the American private sector has long sought. BUILD does a number of positive things to boost the U.S.-Africa economic, business, and development relationship.
Continue reading “HOW THE BUILD ACT CAN INVIGORATE U.S. ECONOMIC TIES IN AFRICA”
ADZOPE, IVORY COAST —U.S. President Donald’s Trump’s daughter and senior White House advisor, Ivanka Trump, has announced a $2 million commitment to help women in Ivory Coast’s cocoa industry.
Speaking at Cayat, a cocoa cooperative in the town of Adzopé, Trump said Wednesday the $2 million, promised by USAID and private chocolate companies, would go toward savings associations, which are a popular way for businesswomen to gain capital in the West African country.
By Nick Turse and Sean D. Naylor
Many Americans first became aware of U.S. military operations in Africa in October 2017, after the Islamic State ambushed American troops near Tongo Tongo, Niger, killing four U.S. soldiers and wounding two others.
Just after the attack, U.S. Africa Command said U.S. troops were providing “advice and assistance” to local counterparts. Later, it would become clear that those troops — the 11-man Operational Detachment-Alpha Team 3212 — were working out of the town of Oullam with a larger Nigerian force under the umbrella of Operation Juniper Shield, a wide-ranging counterterrorism effort in northwest Africa.
By Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban
Senior White House advisor and daughter of United States president, Ivanka Trump, concluded her visit to Ethiopia describing the two-day experience as an “incredible trip.” She arrived in the country on Sunday hailing Addis Ababa as the “diplomatic capital of Africa and the continent’s highest city.”
The period of her stay has been packed since arrival through to departure.
In between the period, she savored the acclaimed Ethiopian coffee, signed deals aimed at women empowerment – the reason she embarked on the trip, paid tribute to victims of Boeing 737 MAX accident and met Lucy.
Continue reading “Ivanka Trump concludes visit to Ethiopia”
President Donald Trump of the United States has described his Eygyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as a ‘great president … doing a great job” in the north African country.
The two leaders met at the White House on Tuesday during an official visit by the Egyptian leader. This trip is his second meeting with Trump in a space of two years.
Continue reading “Trump hails ‘Great President’ Al-Sisi during White House meeting”
Somalia’s Prime Minister Hassan Khayre met with President Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton at the White House on Wednesday. Khayre is seen as a key ally in the fight against the al Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab
“Pleased to have hosted Somali PM Khayre today. I congratulated him on Somalia’s economic reforms and urged sustained engagement on this front. We discussed ways to deepen the strong US-Somalia partnership on critical issues, including counterterrorism and regional stability,” Bolton wrote on Twitter Wednesday following their meeting.
Continue reading “Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hassan Khayre, Visits White House”
Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met recently with Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi in Washington, D.C.
They discussed the future of U.S.-DRC relations following the country’s historic transfer of power earlier this year and expressed their common interest in partnering to deliver a better and more prosperous future for the Congolese people.
China president Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has spread throughout the world including the African continent challenging the U.S.’s economic dominance, is proof enough of China’s ambitions.
But last week even in Atlanta there were intimations that a more dynamic role for the U.S. would be welcome in Africa if it upped its commitment.
A high-level US delegation just returned from Ethiopia, which is arguably America’s closest ally on the continent of Africa. How did these two countries become so close? Journalist James Jeffrey explains.
It’s noticeable soon after you land in Washington – the city is full of Ethiopians.
Their ubiquitous presence – behind the counter at Starbucks or the wheels of taxis – in the bastion of American government symbolises the two pillars of this alliance.
Continue reading “How did US and Ethiopia become so close?”
By Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ICC, Gambian Fatou Bensouda has been hit by a visa ban by the United States government over her office’s decision to probe alleged war crimes by Americans.
She has been investigating U.S. forces and their allies in Afghanistan, a move that United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cautioned last month could lead to sanctions on ICC officials.
Continue reading “U.S. slaps visa ban on ICC prosecutor, Gambia’s Fatou Bensouda”
By Inemesit Udodiong
Afrobeat, a fusion of African pop, dance, and hip hop, is having a great moment right now. All over the world, people are listening, dancing and buying tickets to sold-out shows by Nigerian artists.
It is also topping streaming and airplay charts across the US and Europe. Earlier this year, Davido‘s 2017 hit single, ‘Fall’, became the longest charting Nigerian song on American Billboard chart. It was the most Shazamed song by New York radio listeners in 2018.
Now, New York-based Warner Music Groupjoins the likes of Universal Music Group andSony Music, who have already boarded the Afrobeat train. The world’s third largest record label has a new partnership with Nigerian music label Chocolate City.
Continue reading “Nigerian music label, Chocolate City, signs new deal with Warner Music Group”
By Carolina McCabe
The Moroccan American Network will host its fourth Business Forum – CEO Summit at the Willard InterContinental Hotel, in Washington, D.C. The summit will focus on small business opportunities between the US and Africa. The day of the event corresponds with “Morocco Day,” celebrated March 29.
In 2018, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser proclaimed March 29 as “Morocco Day” following a formal resolution by the D.C. Council.
“Morocco Day is an opportunity to explore economic, cultural, and educational exchange opportunities that are mutually beneficial for the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America,” according to Antoine Battle, CEO of Diplomatic Communications.
Continue reading “Moroccan American Network to Host Business Forum on ‘Morocco Day’ in DC”
By Andrew Chung
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday prevented American sailors injured in the deadly 2000 al Qaeda bombing of the Navy destroyer USS Cole from collecting $314.7 million in damages from the government of Sudan for its alleged role in the attack.
In a 8-1 ruling, the justices overturned a lower court’s decision that had allowed the sailors to collect the damages from certain banks that held Sudanese assets.
Continue reading “U.S. Supreme Court Backs Sudan Over American Sailors In USS Cole Bombing Case”
Ethiopian Airlines has hit back at the Washington Post, for stating that the pilot of the ill-fated flight had not practiced on a new simulator for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 that killed 157 people, among them 36 Kenyans.
“Ethiopian airline strongly refutes all the baseless and the factually incorrect allegations written by the Washington Post on March 21, 2019” part of the statement read.
Read the statement below
Continue reading “Ethiopian Airlines Hits Back at Washington Post over report”
The United States Navy brass band on Wednesday thrilled students of the Department of Arts in the University of Lagos. Nigeria.
The band, which is based in Italy, is involved in efforts to strengthen ties with partner nations throughout Europe and Africa.
The US government has earmarked $60 to fund private sector US investments in Africa through a new Presidential Initiative, called “Prosper Africa,” to support U.S. investment across the continent, improve the business climate, and accelerate the growth of Africa’s middle class.
In support of Prosper Africa, President Donald Trump signed into law the BUILD Act, establishing the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, or IDFC.
US Deputy Secretary of State,
John J. Sullivan, disclosed these facts at an investment luncheon in Luanda, Angola as part of his tour of Africa.
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