I noted that this was actually the President's second visit to Africa as he earlier visited Cairo. He chose Ghana because of the good record it has established in promoting democracy -- four peaceful changes of government in the last 15 years with the opposition winning on two occasions.
I suggested that the administration is well engaged on the most pressing crises on the continent. Obama's special envoy for Sudan, Scott Gration, has been active in dealing with problems surrounding both the north-south peace agreement and Darfur.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson has been active concerning a new U.S. policy towards Somalia, and it is my understanding that there will be a new special envoy for the Great Lakes region of Central Africa as there was in the Clinton administration.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Interview with Alhurra TV
Alhurra Arabic-language TV asked for my views today on President Obama's upcoming visit to Ghana.
I noted that this was actually the President's second visit to Africa as he earlier visited Cairo. He chose Ghana because of the good record it has established in promoting democracy -- four peaceful changes of government in the last 15 years with the opposition winning on two occasions.
I suggested that the administration is well engaged on the most pressing crises on the continent. Obama's special envoy for Sudan, Scott Gration, has been active in dealing with problems surrounding both the north-south peace agreement and Darfur.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson has been active concerning a new U.S. policy towards Somalia, and it is my understanding that there will be a new special envoy for the Great Lakes region of Central Africa as there was in the Clinton administration.
I noted that this was actually the President's second visit to Africa as he earlier visited Cairo. He chose Ghana because of the good record it has established in promoting democracy -- four peaceful changes of government in the last 15 years with the opposition winning on two occasions.
I suggested that the administration is well engaged on the most pressing crises on the continent. Obama's special envoy for Sudan, Scott Gration, has been active in dealing with problems surrounding both the north-south peace agreement and Darfur.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson has been active concerning a new U.S. policy towards Somalia, and it is my understanding that there will be a new special envoy for the Great Lakes region of Central Africa as there was in the Clinton administration.
