Africa: US Foreign Assistance Issues

The United States provides assistance to 47 African countries, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has 23 missions in Africa. In recent years, U.S. assistance to Africa saw a major increase, especially in health-related programs. Aid to Africa quadrupled from $1.1 billion in FY2006 to nearly $8.2 billion in FY2009. In FY2010, Africa is expected to receive an estimated $7.05 billion. The Obama Administration has requested an estimated $7.6 billion for FY2011. In FY2009, the United States provided more than $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Africa. Africa is also a major recipient of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) funding, with 15 African countries currently participating in the program.

Ted Dagne, Congressional Research Service

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Refining American Strategy in Africa

This is an old study from 2000, but it is very useful if you want to compare the previous and after 9/11 era. In this study, Dr. Steven Metz provides a broad overview of the African security environment as a basis for recommendations on the refinement of American strategy in that region. He assesses both the opportunities for positive change which exist today, and the obstacles. While only Africans themselves can determine the future of their region, an American strategy which discourages proxy aggression, encourages private initiatives in the economic and political spheres, and uses the U.S. military, particularly the Army, to engage its African counterparts could pay great dividends.

Steven Metz, SSI

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Horn of Africa: Current Conditions and U.S. Policy

This document contains the speeches of the Hearing before the subcommittee on Africa and Global Health of the committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives.

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AFRICOM: The American Military and Public Diplomacy in Africa

Officials of the Defense and State departments cite a commitment to public diplomacy as an essential element of AFRICOM, the U.S. military command for Africa created in 2007. Questions remain, however, about whether a military command can and should engage in public diplomacy.

Philip Seib, Figueroa Press

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Sudanese Perspectives on the 2011 Referendum

Previously to the Sudanese Referendum, the CSIS published a report, in November 2010, about the situation in Sudan. The referendum, about the independence of half of the largest country in Africa, took place in January. The yes won.

Richard Downie and Brian Kennedy, CSIS

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Security and Stability in Africa: A Development Approach

This paper seeks to overcome this lack of understanding of the significance of African security and stability by discussing the fundamental issues of economic development and political governance through which enduring stability and security might be obtained. This primer is particularly relevant for government and military officials tasked with African responsibilities but who may not possess much African experience.

Clarence J. Bouchat, SSI

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African Conflicts and U.S. Diplomacy

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD) cohosted a conference on October 29, 2009, to examine the role of diplomacy in U.S. relations with Africa. Discussions were grounded in the belief that as U.S. interests and engagement in Africa expand, U.S. diplomatic capacities must expand accordingly. The need to effectively manage multiple strands of U.S. investments in security, development, and conflict mitigation and management has become more complex and more important. The United States faces a far more competitive environment in Africa than in previous decades, with “emerging powers”—most notably China, India, Brazil, and a number of smaller Asian states—making major political and economic plays, and with regional organizations, transnational influences, and African civil societies asserting themselves more and more in national affairs. At the same time, the United States faces continuing constraints in diplomatic resources and personnel. In this context, the United States will need to identify how best to use its influence in Africa, which policy areas and places it should prioritize, and how to balance effectively the use of diplomatic, military, and developmental tools.

Jennifer G. Cooke and Richard Downie, CSIS

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The African Standby Force

This paper provides an update and commentary on subsequent progress. It does so without repeating in detail the background and basis of the ASF project – much of which is contained in the earlier paper.

Jakkie Cilliers, Institute for Security Studies

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Africa and the Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean

Throughout the history of the Indian Ocean, littoral, island and extra-regional states have vied to secure their trade routes, which in turn affects Africa. By reviewing the stakeholders’ dynamics in the Indian Ocean, the implications and challenges for Africa can be analysed. The stakeholder review analyses the attributes and constituency of the Indian Ocean, develops a common position for definitions and gives a select history of the world’s thirdlargest ocean. Countries that have historically frequented the Indian Ocean continue to do so, but the intensity of their activities has increased, as their objectives centre on the common denominator of ensuring energy security and advancing maritime trade. These issues are critical not only for their survival in a world of diminishing resources and increased globalised competition, but also for emerging countries’ economies to continue to grow exponentially.

Frank van Rooyen, South African Institute of International Affairs

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African Foreign Policy: A question of Methodology

Political and economic challenges and opportunities lie ahead of the people, and the leaders of Africa, and conversely, the increase in oil revenue, foreign investment and trade relations with China and India represent challenges as well as opportunities for the continent. Thus, what will guide the decisions of Africa’s leadership during this critical period, and what course of action will lead to an African political consensus? Thus, in this article I advance a methodology for a united African foreign policy applied to two of Africa’s most urgent foreign policy challenges, the U.S. establishment of the African Command (AFRICOM), and the rapidly growing economic and political engagement with China.

Serie McDougal, The Journal of Pan African Studies. (2009)

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chinese soft power and its implications for the United States: Competition and Cooperation in the Developing World

China in recent years has been pursuing its national interests through its exercise internationally of soft power and economic power as it projects a nonconfrontational, friendly diplomacy to states in developing regions. China is using its soft-power projection to promote its own national interests, not as a direct challenge to the United States. 

Carola McGiffert (editor), CSIS. 2009.

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Twenty Years of Collapse and Counting: The Cost of Failure in Somalia

The disastrous famine in Somalia is the worst the world has seen in 20 years, and it again casts a harsh spotlight on the situation in that country. With millions of people now at risk of starvation, and appalling stories of human hardship dominating the evening news, the name “Somalia” once again conjures images of crisis and despair—a famished, suffering country peopled by pirates, terrorists, and warlords.

John Norris and Bronwyn Bruton, Center for American Progress

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De Odyssey Dawn à Unified Protector : bilan transitoire, perspectives et premiers enseignements de l’engagement en Libye

A french paper about the Operation Enduring Freedom.

 Philippe Gros, Fondation pour la Recherche Strategique

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The Libyan Uprising: An Uncertain Trajectory

Libya is not vital to the US strategic interest - the country is primarily within the European strategic orbit. But Libya is an important energy exporter and the failure of the NATO intervention over the long-term can have important ramifications on US regional and international interests.

Varun Vira, Anthony Cordesman and Arleigh Burke, CSIS

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Somália: um Quebra-cabeças para a Construção de uma Nova Ordem Mundial no Século XXI

This article, written in portuguese, analyzes the reasons that turned Somalia into a failed state.

Carlos Manuel Valentim, Miguel Monteiro de Barros e Pedro Barge Cunha, Jornal Defesa e Relações Internacionais

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