The Hill published on 7 January 2025 an article titled "US Determines Sudan Paramilitary Committed Genocide, Sanctions Leader" by Laura Kelly.
In a last-minute policy decision, Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias committed genocide in Sudan. Blinken added this decision neither supports nor favors the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Both the RSF and SAF bear responsibility for the violence and suffering in Sudan.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies published on 10 October 2024 a commentary titled "Two Railroads, One Vision" by Judd Devermont.
The US has mobilized over $4 billion to develop the Lobito Economic Corridor, including refurbishing Angola's Benguela rail line and supporting a rail line expansion between the southern DRC and Zambia. This project will improve the movement of minerals and goods to the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic coast. China is making available $1 billion to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway built in the 1970s that terminates in Dar es Salaam in the Indian Ocean.
While these projects are being framed in the context of great power competition, they offer the possibility of serving as an example of great power cooperation and one that accomplishes a Pan-African goal for a transcontinental rail link from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic that will expand economic development throughout the region. This could be done by connecting the two projects if all parties were to agree.
The State Department published on 26 February 2024 a press release titled "Announcement of a Special Envoy for Sudan."
Tom Perriello became this week the new US special envoy for Sudan. He previously served as the special envoy for the Great Lakes and the Democratic Republic of Congo and as the Special Representative for the second Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. He also represented Virginia's Fifth Congressional District in the House of Representatives.
The South China Morning Post published on 29 January 2024 an article titled "To Challenge China's Influence in Africa, US Borrows from Belt and Road Playbook" by Jevans Nyabiage.
US financing of infrastructure projects in Angola resembles aspects of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The US has been minimally involved in infrastructure development in Africa for many years; this project may signal a new approach.
The Washington Post published on 27 January 2024 an article titled "U.S. Deepens Ties with Angola, a Model for Washington's Ties to Africa" by Michael Birnbaum.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently completed a visit to Angola where he highlighted the significant U.S. engagement with the country, including partnering with European countries in the infrastructure sector, once an area dominated by China. The U.S.-Angola relationship demonstrates how Washington can improve ties with African countries without directly challenging China or Russia.
Comment: Angola is admittedly an easier country than many in Africa for the United States to develop this kind of strong partnership. It is rich in oil and thus able to repay loans. Although the same political party has been in power since achieving independence in 1975, it now functions under a multiparty system with some possibility for opposition parties to gain power.
Modern Diplomacy published on 18 January 2024 an article titled "Blinken to Refocus on Africa as Russia, China Make Gains."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola 21-26 January. The trip follows one by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Egypt, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Togo. The article implies there is a connection on the timing of Blinken's visit to the one by Foreign Minister Wang.
Comment: The media tend to see these visits as an example of US/China/Russia competition, especially when they occur one after the other and when one or more of the same countries are visited. But Secretary of State visits unrelated to world crises such as the war in Gaza are usually planned months in advance and normally have no connection to visits by other world leaders.
Newsweek published on 22 December 2023 an article titled "Yemen's Houthis Doing China 'A Big Favor' by Fighting US" by John Feng.
A Chinese professor at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) National Defense University recently said Houthi attacks on Red Sea commerce have become "a blockade against the West." He added this contributes to China's policy of undermining American sea power and promoting global multipolarity. He concluded that the Houthis have done China a big favor.
Comment: China has much more to lose than the United States by attacks on shipping transiting the Red Sea as its exports and imports rely far more on this waterway than does American commerce. Major Chinese shipping companies such as COSCO have already rerouted their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10-14 days to the transit time and substantially to the cost of shipping between China and Europe. Nor is there any guarantee that Houthi attacks will avoid vessels with Chinese crew members or those owned by Chinese nationals but flying third country flags.
In the meantime, the United States has taken the lead in organizing a naval task force for the global good and strengthened its credentials as the primary naval power in the region. It is enhancing cooperation with countries and navies from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It is demonstrating that China appears to be interested in protecting only its narrow interests in the region. If this muddled analysis by the good professor at the PLA National Defense University represents wider thinking in the PLA, the United States has less to fear from China's strategy than it thought.
Politico published on 21 December 2023 an article titled "Beijing Shrugs at U.S. Call for Help Protecting Red Sea Shipping" by Phelim Kine.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin commented this week that China believes "relevant parties, especially major countries with influence, need to play a constructive and responsible role in keeping lanes safe in the Red Sea." This followed a request from the United States to China to join an international naval task force to protect shipping through the Red Sea.
Comment: China is one of if not the single largest beneficiary of freedom of navigation for its ships, exports, and imports that pass through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Since 2008, it has positioned three naval ships (usually two frigates and a supply ship) in the Gulf of Aden/Red Sea with the stated purpose of discouraging piracy. Yet, Beijing is apparently unwilling to join an international effort to counter Yemen-based Houthi drone and missile attacks on Red Sea shipping.
In fact, China's Global Times, an organ of the Communist Party of China, stated on 20 December in an article titled "US-led Coalition in the Red Sea Only 'Band-aid Solution'; An Immediate Cease-fire in Urgent Need to Avoid Spillovers" that the solution is not shooting down drones and missiles from Yemen-based Houthis but a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. The Global Times has a short memory. The Houthis periodically attacked shipping in the Red Sea BEFORE the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas and they will probably continue the attacks AFTER the war is over.
India's World Is One News (WION) posted on 13 December 2023 a short news clip titled "Will China Join US in Safeguarding Shipping Lane from Houthis?"
The news clip reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken invited China's foreign minister to join the multinational naval effort to protect Red Sea shipping from drone and rocket attacks by Houthis in Yemen.
Comment: There was no indication of China's response to the request, but Beijing has a far greater interest in the security of commercial shipping through the Red Sea than does the United States. China also has two frigates and a supply ship permanently stationed in Gulf of Aden/Red Sea waters and a naval base at Djibouti, which is located close to the Red Sea lanes being attacked by Iranian-backed Houthis.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on 6 December 2023 titled "War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Ethnic Cleansing Determination in Sudan."
The US Department of State has concluded that members of the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have committed war crimes in Sudan. In addition, members of the RSF and allied militias have committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.
The Hill published on 28 November 2023 a commentary titled "The US Can No Longer Ignore Ethiopia's Human Rights Crisis" by Mesfin Tegenu, executive chairman of the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee.
The author argues that ongoing human rights abuses primarily aimed at the Amhara in Ethiopia should cause Washington to leverage its influence with the Abiy government to keep its promises for ending these abuses.
The Diplomat published on 28 September 2023 a commentary titled "Can China Really Build a New World Order?" by Nicholas Bequelin, Yale Law School's Paul Tsai Center on China.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented that "China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and the power to do it." The author concludes that Chinese diplomacy is riven by contradictions, incoherence, and confusion. Disorder rather than a new Chinese world order is the most likely outcome of current Chinese foreign policy.
The Addis Standard published on 4 August 2023 an article titled "Blinken Speaks of 'Immediately Implementing' Pretoria Agreement in a Phone Call with Abiy."
In a 4 August phone call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need for immediate implementation of the Pretoria Agreement, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Ethiopia and concurrent disarmament of Tigrayan forces.
Reuters published on 4 August 2023 an article titled "Ethiopia Declares Six-month State of Emergency in Amhara after Clashes" by Dawit Endeshaw.
Ethiopia's government declared a six-month state of emergency in Amhara Region following days of clashes between the military and the local Fano militia. The Ethiopian National Defense Force and the Fano militia were aligned during the war against Tigray Region. The relationship soured, however, as the federal government tried to weaken regional paramilitary groups such as Fano.
The Washington Post published on 24 April 2023 an article titled "As Sudan's Capital Burns, the Darfur Region Negotiates a Fragile Truce" by Katharine Houreld and Hafiz Haroun.
Khartoum is facing fierce fighting as it struggles to transition to a civilian-led government. On the other hand, civilian-led peace committees have brokered temporary ceasefires in much of Sudan's Darfur region.
CNN published on 18 April 2023 an article titled "US State Department Establishes Special Taskforce to Deal with Sudan Crisis" by Jennifer Hansler.
The U.S. Department of State has established a Sudan Military Conflict Task Force to oversee developments related to Sudan as law and order breaks down in the country.
The Washington Post published on 18 April 2023 an article titled "Sudan Rivals Signal Cease-Fire after U.S. Convoy, Aid Workers Attacked" by Katharine Houreld, Ellen Francis and John Hudson.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said aid workers and a U.S. diplomatic convoy came under attack in Sudan. A 24-hour cease fire reportedly will go into effect Tuesday evening.
Axios published on 18 April 2023 an article titled "US Convoy Attacked in Sudan, Blinken Says" by Barak Ravid.
This more detailed account of the attack on the U.S. diplomatic convoy indicated it was conducted by the Rapid Support Forces.
The BBC published on 15 April 2023 a report titled "Sudan: Army and Paramilitaries Battle Over Key Sites" by Zeinab Mohammed Salih and Emmanuel Igunza.
National army forces under President /General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan are battling for control of Sudan against the Rapid Support Forces led by Vice President/General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. There are conflicting claims as to which forces are in charge of what facilities.
Reuters published on 15 April 2023 an article titled "US Secretary of State Blinken Calls for Immediate End to Violence in Sudan."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Vietnam, called for an immediate end to hostilities.
The South China Morning Post published on 27 March 2023 an article titled "In Ethiopia, China and the US Map Rival Roads to Lasting Peace" by Jevans Nyabiage.
The article contrasts the efforts by the United States and China to achieve peace in Ethiopia. The US turned to sanctions in support of the African Union-led peace process while China called for dialogue and an Ethiopian solution.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement dated 20 March 2023 titled "War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia" by Antony J. Blinken.
The statement determined that members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Eritrean Defense Forces, Tigray People's Liberation Front forces, and Amhara forces committed war crimes during the conflict in northern Ethiopia. The United States will partner with Ethiopia as it implements a credible transitional justice process for the benefit of all victims and affected communities.
The Washington Post published on 21 March 2023 an article titled "U.S. Finds Ethiopian Troops Committed Crimes against Humanity" by Missy Ryan.
The article says the Biden administration is moving cautiously as it seeks to repair strains with Ethiopia that resulted during the civil war in Ethiopia. Officials in Ethiopia warned Washington to stay out of its internal affairs.
The Voice of America published on 21 March 2023 an article titled "Ethiopia Rejects US Accusation of War Crimes as Inflammatory" by Maya Misikir.
Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently issued a statement rejecting the US allegation, adding that it "unfairly proportions blame" and is inflammatory and untimely.
