Russia-Africa Relations: More Talk than Action

 Global Research published on 3 December 2021 an interview titled "Russia-Africa Relations: Geopolitical Arena with Many Players Operating." Kester Kenn Klomegah interviewed Steven Gruzd, head of the Russia-Africa Research Program at the South African Institute of International Affairs.

Gruzd said that except for a focus on niche areas such as arms sales, nuclear energy, and resource extraction, Russia is invisible in economic sectors in Africa, despite boasting of decades-old solid relations with the continent.  In addition, the shadowy world of private miliary companies such as Russia's Wagner Group is causing concern in unstable countries like the CAR, Libya, and Mali.  

US Urging Americans to Depart Ethiopia via Commercial Flights

 Axios published on 15 November 2021 an article titled "There Will Be No Airlift: U.S. Urges Americans to Leave Ethiopia Now" by Dave Lawler.

The State Department press spokesperson recommended that Americans in Ethiopia depart the country while there is excess capacity on commercial flights out of the country.  He emphasized that Addis Ababa is currently calm and there is no immediate threat but the Abiy Ahmed government has declared a state of emergency and as a precautionary measure now is the best time to leave.  

Evolution of China-Angola Relations

 Democracy in Africa published on 1 November 2021 a commentary titled "Sino-Angolan Relations: Old Oil and New Politics" by Dominik Kopinski, University of Wroclaw. 

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Angola has improved its agency with China.  While it has improved its negotiating skills, however, it has not effected any real structural change in the relationship with China.   

US to Remove Ethiopia, Guinea, and Mali from African Growth and Opportunity Act

 President Biden notified Congress on 2 November 2021 that he intends to terminate the designation of Ethiopia, Guinea, and Mali as beneficiary countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as of 1 January 2022.  These governments have failed to address US concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria.  The US will continue to assess if they are making progress toward meeting eligibility requirements.

China-Angola Relations Experience Road Bumps

 Africa Spectrum published online in October 2021 a research article titled "A Marriage of Convenience on the Rocks? Revisiting the Sino-Angolan Relationship" by Paulo de Carvalho, Dominik Kopinski, and Ian Taylor.  

The authors conclude that the Sino-Angolan marriage of convenience  is experiencing a period of rocky introspection, one in which the notion of China having sway in Angola can finally be laid to rest.

US Call for Cease Fire in Tigray Region Rejected by Ethiopian Prime Minister but Eritrea to Remove Troops

 Reuters published on 25 March 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia Rejected U.S. Call for Unilateral Ceasefire Talks, U.S. Says" by Phil Stewart.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reportedly rejected a request from Senator Chris Coons for a unilateral cease fire in Tigray Region during their recent meeting in Addis Ababa.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Abiy announced during a just concluded visit to Asmara that "Eritrea has agreed to withdraw its forces out of the Ethiopian border" according to a March 26 report by Reuters titled "Eritrea Agrees to Withdraw Troops from Border Area, Ethiopia's PM Says."

Comments by Senator Coons on Meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy

 Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 24 March 2021, Senator Christopher Coons, who recently returned from Ethiopia, made brief comments on his meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.  Senator Coons offered a basically positive and upbeat account of the meeting.

Ethiopia: Diplomats Receive Briefing in Mekele on War in Tigray

 Agence France Presse published on 16 March 2021 an article titled "Ethiopian General Tells Diplomats of 'Dirty War' in Tigray" by Robbie Corey-Boulet.

General Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam, head of a task force formed in response to the Tigray conflict, briefed a group of visiting diplomats from Addis Ababa on 11 March in the regional capital of Mekele.  The diplomats reportedly were confined to a briefing at their hotel.  The general referred to "atrocities" occurring in Tigray, but did not indicate who was responsible.

A member of the interim Tigray government told diplomats that out of 226 health centers that existed in Tigray before the war, not more than 20 currently function.  Out of 40 pre-war hospitals, only 10 were functioning.  

China Begins 2021 on High Note in Africa

 The Diplomat posted on 6 January 2021 a commentary titled "China's African Diplomacy Starts 2021 on a High Note" by Shannon Tiezzi.

The author comments on the early January visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Botswana, DRC, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Seychelles and several other positive developments in the China-Africa relationship.  

China-Africa All Weather Relations versus COVID-19 Storm

The South China Morning Post published on 18 April 2020 an article titled "Is the China-Africa 'All-Weather' Relationship in the Midst of a Coronavirus Storm?" by Jevans Nyabiage.

China tries to tamp down the outrage in Africa over the racist treatment of Africans in Guangzhou by sending COVID-19 aid and medical teams to Africa.

VOA Ethiopia/Eritrea Discussion

Voice of America Encounter program with Carol Castiel ran a 25-minute discussion on the developing relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The participants were Hank Cohen, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and myself.

Commentary on Eritrea-US Relations

The Cipher Brief posted on 1 February 2017 commentary by three authors on Eritrea and its relations with the United States. The first commentary is titled "Is a Better Relationship with Eritrea Possible?" by Seth Kaplan, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.

The second is titled "Eritrea: A Potential U.S. Counterterror Partner" by Kaitlin Lavinder, reporter at The Cipher Brief.

The third is titled "Shift in U.S. Policy on Eritrea Unclear" by Felix Horne, Human Rights Watch.

Zimbabwe-China Relations

The Diplomat published on 11 January 2016 a commentary titled "Zimbabwe: China's All-Weather Friend in Africa" by Samuel Ramani, a graduate student at Oxford.  The commentary argues that Zimbabwe is arguably China's closest ally in Africa. 

Eritrea Rejects Devastating UN Human Rights Report

The UN Human Rights Council released on 5 June 2015 the lengthy "Report of the Detailed Findings of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea."  The Commission concluded that systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed in Eritrea under the authority of the Eritrean government.  

The Eritrean foreign ministry declared the UN report was "totally unfounded and without merit" and said it constituted "extreme charges and indecent hyperbole" according to a 10 June 2015 report by Reuters.

Survey of China-Namibia Relations

The Konrad Adenauer Institute published in 2014 a compendium titled "Namibia's Foreign Relations."  It contains on pages 111 to 134 a survey of China-Namibia relations by Andre du Pisani.  The entire document is available on-line. 

Time to Bring Eritrea in from the Cold (Part III)

Princeton Lyman, most recently President Obama's Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, has added his voice on African Arguments to the issue of bringing Eritrea in from the cold.  His commentary posted on 14 January 2014 is titled "Previous Attempts to 'Bring Eritrea in from the Cold' Have Proved Difficult, But We Should Still Try." 

What Game is Gambia Playing with Taiwan and China?

Until 15 November 2013, Gambia was one of only four countries in Africa that recognized Taiwan.  On that date, President Yahya Jammeh announced that Gambia had cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan for reasons of "national strategic interest."  Gambia hoped to remain friends with the Taiwanese people, he said.  A day after making the announcement, Jammeh posted on Facebook that the People's Republic of China is the only China Gambia recognized diplomatically as the country goes forward.  There has been no indication that Beijing has recognized Gambia.

A report in the 19 November 2013 Taipei Times titled "Taiwan Declares Ties with the Gambia 'Terminated'," states that last January President Yahya Jammeh requested $10 million in cash, which is contrary to Taiwan's foreign aid policy.  Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Lin, said there is no indication that Beijing had anything to do with this unexpected decision by President Jammeh.  He added that should China and Gambia establish relations, "it would be a very serious warning to us."  Taiwan and China have had an informal diplomatic truce on the issue of diplomatic representation since the election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.   

Emerging Powers in Africa

LSE Ideas in London published in June 2013 a study titled "Emerging Powers in Africa."  It looks at the impact of China, Russia, India, Brazil, Turkey and Korea. 

New Initiatives During Obama Trip to Africa

During his trip to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania from 26 June 2013 until 3 July 2013, President Barack Obama announced three key initiatives.  While there was far too much focus in the press on issues such as the high cost of the trip (all presidential travel is expensive for security reasons), it will increasingly be associated with the three key initiatives: Power Africa, Trade Africa and the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

The White House released on 30 June 2013 "Fact Sheet: Power Africa," which explains that the initiative will double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa by adding more than 10,000 megawatts of efficient electricity generation capacity.  Initial partners include Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania.  Power Africa will also work with Uganda and Mozambique on responsible oil and gas management.  The U.S. will commit more than $7 billion to the effort over the next 5 years.  For example, USAID will provide $285 million in technical assistance; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation up to $1.5 billion in financing and insurance for energy projects; U.S. Export-Import Bank up to $5 billion in support of U.S. exports for the development of power projects; and the Millennium Challenge Corporation up to $1 billion in African power systems.  Power Africa will leverage private sector investment, beginning with more than $9 billion from companies such as General Electric, Heirs Holding and Symbion Power.

The White House released on 1 July 2013 "Fact Sheet: Trade Africa," which will focus initially on the members of the East African Community (EAC)--Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.  Trade Africa aims to double intra-regional trade in the EAC, increase EAC exports to the U.S. by 40 percent, reduce by 15 percent the average time needed to import or export a container from the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam to land-locked Burundi and Rwanda, and decrease by 30 percent the average time a truck takes to transit selected borders.  Trade Africa may eventually expand to other African regions.

The President announced the third initiative concerning interaction with African youth in South Africa on 29 June 2013.  The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders beginning in 2014 will bring more than 500 young African leaders to the U.S. each year for leadership training and mentoring.  They will spend 6 weeks at top American universities in tailored training programs and have the opportunity to participate in internships in the private and public sectors.  Microsoft, for example, will connect Washington Fellows with internships at their offices across Africa.  Ethiopian Airlines will offer participants the opportunity to train at their business management and corporate governance platforms around the world.  The U.S. will award more than $5 million in small grants to Washington Fellows who seek to start their own businesses or social enterprises.  USAID will establish regional hubs and coordinators to connect Washington Fellows to these opportunities and leverage over $200 million in ongoing youth programs.

Everything considered, not a bad result for a visit that received surprisingly little press coverage--and much of that negative. 

Analysis of Obama in Africa

Steve McDonald, director of the Africa program at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, analyzed the recent visit to Africa by President Barack Obama in a two part blog posting.  Part I looked at the visit just before it occurred and Part II commented on the results at the end of the visit.  McDonald was more positive at the end of the visit than before it began.