Sign up for email updates on African issues.
Leading Niger Back to Democracy
(Feb. 22): "We support the efforts of ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations to promote Niger’s speedy return to the rule of law, and together we will hold Niger to those public pledges." Daily Press Briefing»
Seizure of Power and Aftermath in Niger
(Feb. 19): "The situation in Niamey is calm today. The United States continues to call on Niger’s speedy return to democracy and the rule of law, as well as prompt, fair, and transparent elections." Full Text»
Transition Government in Guinea
(Feb. 18): With the January 15 signing of the Ouagadougou Accords, the subsequent appointment of a civilian prime minister, and now a civilian transition government, interim President General Sekouba Konate and the Guinean Government continue to demonstrate their commitment to a peaceful transition to a democratically-elected civilian government. Under the Accords, the government is slated to hold elections within six months. Full Text»
Concern about State of Kenya’s Coalition Government
(Feb. 17): We urge the leaders of the coalition to work swiftly to resolve these differences, which must not derail efforts to implement critical reforms and move Kenya forward. Full Text»
Upcoming Elections in Sudan
(Feb. 16): "Our hope is that Sudan’s national elections will be held on time and in an electoral environment that is peaceful and credible. We support the elections as an important step in Sudan’s democratic transformation." Daily Press Briefing»
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson leads the Bureau of African Affairs, the division of the Department of State that advises the Secretary about sub-Saharan Africa. The Bureau's priority is conflict resolution With U.S. support, since 2002 violent conflicts have ended in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the North-South element of the Sudan crisis.
The U.S. has provided much of the humanitarian assistance and logistical support and training for African peacekeepers in Darfur and Somalia. At the same time, the U.S. has led by example to confront Africa's worst diseases. The U.S. Government’s fight against AIDS (PEPFAR) is the largest foreign assistance program since the Marshall Plan. The U.S. Government is also confronting malaria and a host of other tropical diseases. In the long term, Africans have established priorities to consolidate democratic gains and sustain broad-based economic growth.
Recent Two-Week Tour of Africa
(Feb. 24): Assistant Secretary Carson briefed on his recent travel to Spain, Ethiopia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, as well as being part of the delegation headed by Under Secretary Maria Otero.
Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement Negotiate Agreement
(Feb. 22): The United States welcomes the announced framework agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Darfuri rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) as a significant move toward formal negotiations in the AU/UN-led Darfur peace process. Full Text» Sudan Special Envoy Travel to Chad and Sudan»
