Talking Points: U.S. in Africa: Fanning the Flames or Putting Out the Fire?

87% of Sub-Saharan Africans make less than $2/day. 30-40% unemployment rates in many countries.
The global food crisis has hit Africa hard and is deepening many conflicts
Poverty in Africa must be addressed in order to address conflict and security.

Sudan

The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on 10 counts including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Arab militants called “Janjaweed” have been systematically killing and terrorizing Darfur’s residents to rid Sudan of non-Arabs.

More than 400,000 have been killed and more than 2 million have been displaced from their homes in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Both the U.S. and UN have labeled it the worst humanitarian crisis today.

Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond (by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast, 2007)
Not On Our Watch website
Council of Foreign Relations interview of John Prendergast
Save Darfur: “Rhetoric vs. Reality: The Situation in Darfur”

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

5.4 million war-related deaths since 1998

Congo’s Second Civil War ended June of 2003

2.7 million war-related deaths since 2004

Rape is being used as a weapon of war in DRC against women, who are raped and enslaved by soldiers.

World’s Deadliest War since World War II

U.S. Department of State: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Friends of the Congo
WIKIPEDIA: Second Congo War

Somalia

Touted as a Global War On Terror “success” story for overthrowing Islamists.

U.S. lost credibility in Africa because of U.S.’s role in orchestrating Ethiopia’s invasion of Somalia, CIA funding of warlords, cruise missile attacks on Somali villages killing civilians and the U.S.’s role in imposing a hand picked government.

An estimated 3.25 million Somalis are in need of food aid.

Pirates have captured many vessels in the Sea of Aden where foreign navies now help to capture Somali Pirates.

Zimbabwe

Mugabe was defeated by Tsvangirai in XXX and refused to give up the Presidency. Tsvangirai struck a power sharing deal with Mugabe and will now be the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe with Robert Mugabe remaining as President.

U.S. aid essential to rebuilding Zimbabwe but will not lift sanctions until they see change

Mugabe’s government broke up 600 person peaceful protest of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise

Bush
Global War On Terror in Africa: Bush lost credibility because he allied with undemocratic leaders like Males Zenawi of Ethiopia and Abdallah Gosh of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service.

Obama
Obama has proclaimed during his campaign peace for Darfur and all of Sudan, and to provide more support for UN Peacekeepers in the DRC. He talked of “recalibrating” the U.S. approach in Somalia.

Obama Administration Recommendations

Reduce U.S. military spending. Invest in reducing threats through arms control and multilateral peace.
Reform economic recovery structures – interdependence, not blind reliance on the market
U.S. assistance restructured to foster cooperative engagement
Debt Cancellation and responsible lending, reform the IMF and World Bank programs
Fair trade not free trade
Multilateral conflict resolution
Human Rights must be a clear and consistent pillar of U.S. foreign policy

“A Memo to the Next President: Think Globally” (by Emira Woods, 10/9/08)
“Bush’s legacy and Obama’s Africa challenge” in Hopes and Realities: Challenges for the Next U.S. President (by Gerald LeMelle, Center for International Relations)
“Obama, Africa, and Peace” (by John Prendergast and John Norris, 1/13/09)
“Where are the Civilians? How to Rebuild the U.S. Foreign Service” (by Anthony Holmes, January/February, 2009)

AFRICOM

Established by Bush in 10/07 without consulting African leaders.
Seeks to coordinate U.S. military operations in Africa
Humanitarian work previously done by the Dept. of State has moved to the Dept. of Defense.
Activists see this as further militarization of U.S.-Africa relations
Since 2001, the U.S. military budget for Africa-related programs has gone up 1,000%

AFRICOM Frequently Asked Questions
“AFRICOM: Wrong for Liberia, Disastrous for Africa”
AFRICOM - Council on Foreign Relations

MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation)

MCC is a U.S. Government Corporation that is implementing a bilateral development fund called the Millennium Challenge Account.'
How American aid should be distributed to the world’s poorest countries to get accountability and results is the purpose of the MCC.
Promoting countries building sustainable economic development through U.S. aid and holding rich and poor nations accountable.