allAfrica.com: Africa: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Clinton's Africa Secretary on the Continent's Prospects (Page 1 of 5)

Africa: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Clinton's Africa Secretary on the Continent's Prospects

Susan Rice, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during the Clinton Administration, was a key figure during a time of challenging transformation and turmoil in Africa and remains a keen observer of African affairs. In an interview with allAfrica's Charles Cobb Jr., Ms. Rice reflects on key events during her tenure, assesses the Bush administration's developing Africa policy, and insists that the Clinton administration's approach to Africa achieved a number of breakthroughs. Excerpts:

When the Bush administration took over, few expected that his administration would be very interested in Africa. Yet, his team seems to have been extremely energetic with regard to the continent. I wonder if you agree with that impression and, if you do, to what you attribute it?

First of all, when one looks at the overall record, it's really too soon to discern a pattern; but I think we can say several things at the outset. A number of observers were concerned at some of President Bush's statements about Africa during the campaign which might have led to this expectation of, at best, lack of interest and at worst, well, some negative perceptions. Many people have been glad to see that the early months of the administration, and the actions of the administration, have not matched that campaign rhetoric. The rhetoric was such that, quite honestly, many of us in the Clinton administration especially those of us working on Africa, toward the end of the term had a conscious determination to make it difficult for the Bush administration, should it have been so inclined, to walk away from Africa. We felt that one of the important steps we had made was to bring Africa from the bottom of the agenda on national security and foreign policy to a higher level, to give it greater attention, greater resources and a greater role in our overall perspective on international affairs.

So, if you go back, for example, and look at Secretary [of State, Madeleine] Albright's last trip to Africa - she took four trips to Africa, one each year, in the course of her tenure as Secretary, the last one in December, 2000 - she very consciously used rhetoric that said Africa is a place that has to be high on our priority list, come what may. And that was not unintentional. At Howard University, I think, she sat on a podium with Secretary [of State] Powell toward the end of the administration - I think we were even into the transition - and made a point of underscoring in his presence - in good humor of course - that we were intending to set the bar at a certain level and we hoped that they would take note of that. And, quite frankly, I think they've done so. And I think that is certainly something that I'm gratified by and proud of, and I think that Secretary Powell started setting the tone early. During the transition he made something of a statement in State department circles by asking to meet with the Africa bureau first. That shook some of the pinstripes a little bit. But it was a bold statement.

And by making a decision to travel to Africa early in his tenure, by the White House, after a few months, making a point to have some symbolic ceremonies, including the Rose Garden ceremony around the legally-mandated requirement to implement AGOA [African Growth and Opportunity Act]; and to then have some heads of state, including [Nigerian President, Olusegun] Obasanjo and [South African President, Thabo] Mbeki, and [Mali President, Alfa Oumar] Konare, and [Senegal President Abdoulaye] Wade, and others in the early months - these were all good, positive, symbolic steps. And I think what they convey is a determination not to be tarred with the brush of having let Africa fall off the agenda.

Obviously, the challenges have to go beyond the symbolism, visits or trips. This, of course, is the challenge any administration faces. There is an imperative to put muscle and money where our mouths are. That will ultimately be the basis on which this administration's, or any administration's, record will be measured. They have worked hard to indicate that even in the wake of September 11, they do not want to be accused of letting Africa slide off the radar screen. It's a good thing and I'm glad to see it.

Do you think this is being led by Powell or Bush?

It's hard to know. It's certainly Powell, I believe. I hope, and can't help but believe, that obviously also the National Security Advisor [Condoleezza Rice] and her staff play an important role. Certainly President Bush, who ultimately makes decisions about how he spends his time, has agreed to meet with a number of African leaders. For that he obviously deserves credit. I can't comment with great knowledge on the internal bureaucratic politics but I assume there's not great debate and dissent on this issue.

I do think it needs to be said that policymakers in national security affairs across the board, including those who work on Africa, were really dealt a horrendous blow following 'nine-eleven' [the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001]. We're all in uncharted waters when it comes to constructing and managing a global national security policy in the wake of a fundamental shift in the landscape.

I think that will be a particular challenge for Africa policy makers because it will be that much more difficult to keep Africa on the agenda, to preserve the resources that it needs, and in fact as I testified [before the House Subcommittee on Africa, November 15] I believe we ought to be looking at, in our national security interests, at substantial increases in the resources we devote to Africa and other developing parts of the world which are breeding grounds for terrorists.

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