Bureau of African Affairs

Date: 05/07/2009 Description: Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson State Dept PhotoAssistant 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. 


Sudan's Upcoming Referenda: January 2011


U.S. Support of the Southern Sudan Referendum
Director Hammink (Nov. 23)::
 "Crucial to USAID’s success in moving referendum preparations forward has been its ability to develop close working partnerships, both directly and through its implementation partners with the Sudanese referendum authorities, civil society organizations, and the broader constituency of stakeholders in this historic process, including, of course, the United Nations and other donors." Full Text»

Secretary Clinton at the UN Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Sudan
Secretary Clinton (Nov. 16): "Yesterday marked a milestone in the history of Sudan. Voters from Southern Sudan began lining up to register for the referendum by which they will decide their own future." Full Text»  Referendum Update»


Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia Meets in New York
Nov. 9: The United States will join partners from 60 countries and international organizations at the United Nations in New York November 10 for a plenary meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. Full Text»  Somalia on DipNote»

A Dual-Track Approach on Somalia
Oct. 20:
Assistant Secretary Carson spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.


Raising Clean Hands: How WASH Is Essential for Achieving Universal Education
Under Secretary Otero (Oct. 13):
 "The initiative aims to help U.S. Embassies around the world collaborate with experienced NGOs to implement a local WASH in schools project.

We are already working with embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, and looking to expand to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America." Full Text»


Nigeria's National Day
Secretary Clinton (Sept. 30): "On this occasion, we honor Nigeria’s history, its many accomplishments, its leadership not only in West Africa, but throughout the continent and the world." Full Text» U.S. Delegation to Nigeria»

Oct. 1: The United States condemns the bombings that took place this morning in Abuja, Nigeria, which attempted to mar the celebration of 50 years of independence. Bombings in Abuja»


Date: 04/27/2010 Description: African women and children © AP Image

Sexual Violence Epidemic on Border of Angola and the DRC
Assistant Secretary Crowley (Oct. 28):
 "We are reacting to reports of rapes along the Angola-Congo border and we encourage Angolan officials to investigate these allegations and determine who perpetrated the alleged human rights violations against Congolese women before their deportation." Daily Press Briefing»

Mass Rapes in the DRC
Ambassador Rice (Aug. 26): "I just want to take this opportunity to reiterate from the U.S. point of view our strongest possible condemnation of the rapes and attacks that occurred against scores of innocent civilians. We are horrified, and we are outraged, and that led us, in conjunction with the French, to request this detailed briefing this morning." Full Text» Video» Allegation of Mass Rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo»