ABC News published on 17 September 2024 an article titled "US Expresses 'Grave' Concern as Fighting in Sudan's El Fasher Escalates Amid Civil War" by Emma Ogao.
A large-scale escalation of fighting in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, caused US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, to express grave concern about the paramilitary Rapid Support Force attacks on the regional capital.
National Public Radio posted on 15 April 2024 an interview with US ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield titled "The U.S.Announces New Aid for Sudan, Where Civil War Broke Out a Year Ago."
The United States announced $100 million in new food aid for Sudan, bringing total American aid to Sudan to $1 billion since the conflict began a year ago.
Reuters published on 6 September 2023 an article titled "US Targets Deputy Leader of Sudan's RSF Over Rights Abuses" by Michelle Nichols.
The United States has sanctioned Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, deputy leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, for serious human rights abuses in Sudan. The charges stem from the ongoing atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan. The financial sanctions may have minimal impact as the deputy leader likely has few, if any, financial ties to the United States.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the official announcement of the sanctions on 6 September 2023 titled "Treasury Sanctions Sudanese Paramilitary Leader."
World Politics Review published on 8 February 2023 a commentary titled "To Compete with China the U.S. Must Take Africans Seriously" by Chris Olaoluwa Ogunmodede.
The author argues that "African leaders remain wary of grand pledges and empty rhetoric unmatched by concrete follow-through, as well as the arrogant paternalism that typically characterizes Washington's engagement with these countries." But the author adds that China is no less prone than the United States to making mistakes in its interaction with Africans. Nevertheless, Beijing's core arguments resonate better by default.
Japan's model of cooperation with Africans may be the best one to emulate. Washington could start by being a better listener with its African interlocutors.
India's Observer Research Foundation published on 1 February 2023 an article titled "China, the US, and Russia Go On a Diplomatic Charm Offensive in Africa" by Abhishek Mishra.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and UN ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov crisscrossed Africa in January.
Reuters published on 29 January 2023 an article titled "Eritrea Troops Still on Ethiopian Soil, U.S. Says."
US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Eritrean troops remain in Tigray Region although they have moved towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border. A major general in the Ethiopian National Defense Forces said there are no Eritrean forces in Tigray Region. A Tigrayan government spokesperson said "thousands" of Eritrean troops remain in Tigray.
The Associated Press published on 29 January 2023 an article titled "US Urges Donors to Give Far More as Somalia Faces Famine" by Cara Anna.
US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, made a surprise visit to Mogadishu on 29 January and used the occasion to call on donors to provide more famine relief. Today, there are 2.7 million more people in need of food assistance than during Somalia's last famine in 2011.
Reuters published on 6 October 2022 an article titled "U.S. Accuses Russia of Exploiting African Resources to Fund Ukraine War" by Michelle Nichols.
U.S. ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, accused Russian mercenaries with the Wagner Group of exploiting natural resources in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Sudan to help fund Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Foreign Policy published on 21 September 2022 a commentary titled "South Africa Doubles Down on Russia Ties" by Nosmot Gbadamosi.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met last week in Washington with President Joe Biden. Ramaphosa reportedly held to South Africa's neutral position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and objected to proposed US legislation that would sanction Africans doing business with Russian entities that are under US sanctions.
The Voice of America posted on 5 August a 25 minute radio show "Encounter" with Carol Castiel and panelists Joshua Meservey, Heritage Foundation, and me on the US and Russia in Africa.
The VOA program discusses how Russia's false narrative regarding the food crisis is playing out in Africa as well as why visits by key US officials are so critical for reinforcing US-Africa relations.
Foreign Policy published on 28 July 2022 an article titled "U.S. Follows Russia in Dueling Trips to Africa" by Robbie Gramer and Jack Detsch.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently completed a four-country visit to Africa pressing Moscow's case for invading Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit Africa in August with likely stops in South Africa and the DRC. USUN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield is going to Ghana and Uganda next week and USAID Director Samantha Power visited Kenya and Somalia last week.
Foreign Policy published on 5 May 2022 a commentary titled "Western Allies Pressure African Countries to Condemn Russia"by Robbie Gramer.
A public pressure campaign by Western countries urging African countries to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine could backfire if it takes on a "with us or against us" tone.
Politico published on 24 March 2021 an article titled "Biden's Closest Senate Ally Emerges As a Shadow Secretary of State" by Andrew Desiderio.
The article provides some insight on the recent meeting in Addis Ababa between Senator Christopher Coons of Delaware and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The South China Morning Post published on 31 January 2021 an article titled "China's Strategy in Africa 'Isn't Always Working,' Biden UN Nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield Tells Senators" by Jevans Nyabiage.
President Biden's nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, discusses China-Africa and the US response during Senate confirmation hearings.
The Washington Post published on 27 January 2021 a commentary titled "Opinion: Biden's U.N. Ambassador Nominee to Face Criticism for Past Praise of China" by Josh Rogin.
The New York Times published on 27 January 2021 an article titled "Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Biden's Pick for U.N. Ambassador, Calls 2019 China Speech 'a Huge Mistake'" by Pranshu Verma.
Both accounts refer to a speech Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a specialist on African affairs, gave at Savannah State University's Confucius Institute in 2019. Her conciliatory remarks on China's engagement in Africa irritated conservative members of the Senate, causing Thomas-Greenfield to "regret" the speech and describing it as a "huge mistake."
