Obama concludes US-Africa summit with announcement of special peacekeeping force

The United States will step up its support for the African militaries battling Islamic extremists or conducting dangerous peacekeeping missions, President Barack Obama said Wednesday.

Marking the end of a historic Washington summit with African leaders and officials representing 50 nations, Obama said boosting Africa’s security would help shore up its economic achievements.

Tens of billions of dollars in investments and financial support had already been announced, but Obama said the continent needs to redouble reform efforts to deepen growth and opportunity.

African countries have impressive economic strides but need to slash corruption, improve human rights, especially the rights of women, and strengthen the rule of law, he warned.

“This summit reflects the reality that, even as Africa continues to face great challenges, we’re also seeing the emergence of a new, more prosperous Africa,” Obama told reporters after the talks.

“We agreed that Africa’s growth depends, first and foremost, on continued reforms in Africa by Africans.”

While governance and security were important in the summit, Obama delivered to the 45 heads of state and government that came to Washington some $33 billion in new commitments of investment and loans, much of it to targeting the continent’s vastly undersupplied electric power capacity.

The new money for power plants will help deliver power to 60 million African households and businesses, he said.

In addition to that, he said the US collective of non-governmental aid and development groups, InterAction, was promising $4 billion in new funds for health care and medicines in Africa.

“Combined with the investments we announced yesterday and the agreements made today, this summit has helped to mobilize some $37 billion for Africa’s progress,” Obama said.

The long-awaited summit aimed in part at deepening economic relations and increasing trade between the two sides, and brought together hundreds of top business executives.

The United States has stood aside as China and Europe have pushed in front to take part in Africa’s economic takeoff.

African businessmen criticized their American counterparts for holding on to outdated stereotypes of a backwards, corrupt and risk-laden continent—despite the presence of top US CEOs.

But African leaders also admitted they have much work to do, even as they welcomed US attention.

The new security measures included a pledge of $110 million a year over the next three to five years to help African militaries rapidly deploy peacekeeping troops to conflicts. That effort will first involve Senegal, Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, which will commit troops to a stand-by force ready to assist United Nations and African Union missions.

“We will join with six countries that have demonstrated a track record as peacekeepers,” Obama said.

In addition, the US committed $65 million to a new initiative to strengthen the abilities of law enforcement and justice authorities in six western African nations to combat transnational threats like drug trafficking and extremist groups like Al Qaeda and Boko Haram.

Obama stressed, however, that reforms are still crucial to battling security threats. “One of the best inoculators is a society in which everybody feels that they have a stake in the existing order and they feel their grievances can be resolved through political means rather than through violence,” he said.

“That’s just one more reason why good governance has to be part of the recipe that we use for a strong, stable and prosperous Africa.”

The US-Africa summit was the largest such gathering ever held, and came six years into Obama’s mandate, despite the hopes his 2008 election as the first black US leader had inspired in the continent
 (AFP)
http://www.france24.com/en/20140807-obama-uS-africa-summit-peacekeeping-security-force/
7/8/14
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2. US Takes Different Approach to Africa than China....

President Barack Obama's effort to engage Africa brought together the largest summit of African leaders ever held in Washington. But China has hosted such summits before, and the U.S. gathering highlights what some see as a belated U.S. effort to catch up and expand its economic ties with Africa.
The might of large American corporations like Coca Cola is powering the Obama administration's latest efforts to build its partnership with Africa.
The company at the summit announced it's boosting its investment by $5 billion in safe water and other programs.
China, too, has invested heavily -- doing twice as much trade with Africa as the U.S. But Beijing has been accused of ignoring governance and human rights issues.

Corporate investment
Obama announced $14 billion of American corporate investment at the Africa summit, but indicated the United States will have a different approach.
“Capital is one thing. Development programs and projects are one thing. But, but rule of law? Regulatory reform? Good governance? Those things matter even more, because people should be able to start a business and ship their goods without having to pay a bribe or hire somebody's cousin.”
This was a big summit, but Beijing started hosting equally large numbers of African leaders 14 years ago.
U.S. officials say there is no competition with China for Africa.

Human rights, governance
Analyst Richard Downie agrees. "I think at heart, the U.S. and China have mutual interests in Africa. They're both interested in peace, stability and security because that's the best environment in which to grow markets and do business."
He said the U.S. seeks a new kind of engagement.
“The U.S. has traditionally focused very much on development issues, on tackling some of the big public health crises in Africa, such as HIV/AIDS and trying to resolve some of the most persistent conflicts," said Downie. "So it’s really focused on the downsides, the problems of Africa rather than the upside, the economic opportunities that China is focused on.”
This summit focused on the upside, with economic issues taking center stage. There were no sessions devoted to rule of law and justice. White House officials said leaders had a chance to talk about those issues on the sidelines.
Luis Ramirez
 http://www.voanews.com/content/us-takes-different-approach-to-africa-than-china/1973328.html
6/8/14