US President Barack Obama speaks with President Boni Yayi of Benin (C) and President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania (R) as they attend a leaders’ session at the US - Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC |
As the US–Africa Leaders Summit in Washington drew to a close; African leaders took turns to pose for photographs with US President Barack Obama. The agenda of the summit was to discuss how to boost trade and investment and to talk about America’s commitment to security and democracy in Africa.
On its part, Uganda, just like many other African
countries, expected the US to renew the African Growth and Opportunity
Act (AGOA). Through AGOA, the US allows some African products duty–free
access into the US. That way, some manufacturers operating in Africa are
assured of market for their products. That creates job opportunities
for people and helps to keep poverty at bay.
Uganda also wanted more US guarantees about
security cooperation in the region being on frontiers in Somalia, South
Sudan and Central African Republic. Also, some African countries wanted
to change the narrative about the continent.
“There is a perception and there is reality,” said Senegal’s President Macky Sall.
“There is a perception and there is reality,” said Senegal’s President Macky Sall.
“What you see in the media about one or two or
three countries is not what is going on in the rest of the continent.
Africa is 54 countries. They are all trying to build long lasting
democracies,” Mr Sall told US media. “There is commitment to fight
corruption, drug trafficking. There is more respect for human rights.
Unfortunately, this is the good story that is not being told,” added
Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete.
The timing of the Summit
Though Dambisa Moyo, a Zambian-born economist who analyses the macroeconomy, foreign aid impact, and global affairs, did not have the US–African Leaders Summit in mind, she captured the times when she noted in 2009 that “across Africa, China’s influence is seen as growing faster than America’s”. “For many Africans the benefits are all too real – there are now roads where there were no roads and jobs where there were no jobs,” she stated in her book, Dead Aid Why Aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa (2009).
Though Dambisa Moyo, a Zambian-born economist who analyses the macroeconomy, foreign aid impact, and global affairs, did not have the US–African Leaders Summit in mind, she captured the times when she noted in 2009 that “across Africa, China’s influence is seen as growing faster than America’s”. “For many Africans the benefits are all too real – there are now roads where there were no roads and jobs where there were no jobs,” she stated in her book, Dead Aid Why Aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa (2009).
Dr Frederick Kisekka–Ntale, a political analyst,
said the summit happened because the big states think they must be seen
to be engaging with Africa. “They want to keep up with the diplomacy
rhythm. China has done it. Japan has done it. Britain does it through
the Commonwealth,” Dr Kisekka–Ntale told the Sunday Monitor last week.
The China influence ($210b in bilateral trade with
African in 2013 against US’s $85b) explains why invitations were also
sent out to some of Africa’s longest serving leaders like Mr Nguema
Obiang, who has ruled oil-rich Equatorial Guinea for 34 years, Eduardo
Dos Santos of Angola for 34 years, among others, with whom the US has
repetitively expressed discontent over several issues like human rights,
and they tended to lean towards the East.
What did Africa get?
First, Obama said he was optimistic Congress will renew AGOA, which is due to expire in September 2015, to make it long term. AGOA started in 2000 after some American activists –unhappy with US protectionism – pushed Congress to support freer access for some African products into the US.
First, Obama said he was optimistic Congress will renew AGOA, which is due to expire in September 2015, to make it long term. AGOA started in 2000 after some American activists –unhappy with US protectionism – pushed Congress to support freer access for some African products into the US.
Second, Africa which is home to the 6 fastest
growing economies, was assured the US has raised $26 billion (Shs67.6
trillion) to power Africa. Among the contributors to the Power Africa
Initiative are Sweden, the World Bank and the US. Through the
initiative, 60 million more African homes and business will be connected
to electricity so as to spur [economic] growth. Many homes in Africa
currently are not connected to electricity because they are either too
poor to afford the connection fees or the electricity infrastructure is
lacking. Some of the money will be funneled to aviation, banking and
construction.
The details about when and how the $26 billion
will be released to Africa and how long the initiative will run are
still sketchy. Not mentioning all bilateral talks between individual
Africa leaders and US businessmen, Mr Obama overall announced a total of
$33 billion (Shs86 trillion) in investments and partnerships to Africa,
which he said would spur development. US companies also pledged $14
billion (Shs36 trillion) in investments.
The US President on Tuesday admitted the fact
brought to his attention by one Ugandan lady during a video conference,
that Africa/Uganda does not need aid but rather equal business
partnerships and commitments.
Regarding Uganda’s expectations on security, he
said the US will provide additional equipment to African peacekeepers in
Somalia and the Central African Republic and, “will join with six
countries that in recent years have demonstrated a track record as
peacekeepers -- Ghana, Senegal, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda.
US Secretary of State John Kerry at a meeting with
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member head of
states, issued warning to South Sudan rebel leader Dr Riek Machar they
accused of violating the ceasefire agreement and continuous spiraling
violence in the conflict. Yet the US has in the past been critical of
Uganda’s fighting alongside President Salva Kiir’ SPLA in the conflict
which has since tuurned tribal, it’s not yet clear if the issue of
pulling out troops was raised.
It costs the Ugandan taxpayers Shs7 billion
monthly to maintain some Special Forces Command troops in S. Sudan where
they have been since December 2013. The US, as the rebels at the
ongoing peace talks in Ethiopia, have urged Uganda to pull-out to
further meaningful discussions. However, Senator Kerry’s warnings could
imply a shift in diplomatic goal posts during mediation and peace
resolutions. With the Summit having taken place just as Ebola hit some
countries in West Africa, the US said it would work urgently with the
Liberians, the Sierra Leoneans and the Guineans to control an outbreak
of the deadly disease.
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