It seems that Republican candidates for president are all too often written off as not having sufficient interest or experience to benefit Africa, even though recent history has proven such speculation to be untrue.
For example, in discussing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that he wrote, former Democratic congressional staff member Mike Williams often refers publicly to then-Vice President Richard Nixon's support for U.S.-Africa trade as the result of his late 1950s visit to Africa for the Eisenhower administration. According to Williams, Nixon's view on the need for enhanced U.S. trade with Africa partly served as his inspiration for the AGOA bill.
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, American presidents dealt with the newly-independent African nations either through their former European colonial powers, who were by and large U.S. allies, or in relation to those nations' ties to the Soviet Union.
When President George H.W. Bush became president, few would have expected him to do anything much to benefit Africa despite his extensive foreign policy expertise. As it turned out, his administration came to power at a point in history when the Cold War influence on U.S. policy toward Africa was about to end and colonialism was finished. Now America could consider relationships with African nations that had nothing to do with European colonial powers or Russia.
Under the first Bush administration, the United States fielded a large humanitarian operation in Somalia and created the African Regional Electoral Assistance Fund, which would make significant technical contributions to the wave of African elections and transitions to democratic systems in the 1990s.
Moreover, the administration of the first President Bush issued National Security Review 30, a paper that outlined a broad policy of increased U.S. engagement with Africa. That policy initiative came too late in his administration to be enacted, but fortunately President Bill Clinton did enact it.
Clinton had no Africa experience to speak of coming into the presidency, but building on the Bush plan, he produced a robust engagement of Africa that has set the tone for his successors. He signed into law the first AGOA bill, which helped to realize the increased U.S.-Africa trade Nixon had spoken of decades earlier.
The current President George Bush came into office with no Africa experience as well, but he has assembled a remarkable record of achievement on Africa policy – from his administration's greatly-expanded contributions of funds to combat HIV/Aids and malaria to his steadfast advocacy of AGOA, his support for African education (especially for girls) and his partnership with African governments on mutual security issues.
It would be foolish to suggest that Senator John McCain has more knowledge or passion for the continent than Senator Barack Obama – a son of Africa – but that does not mean a McCain presidency would ignore or neglect Africa. We have moved beyond that possibility.
Africa matters and U.S. policymakers understand that. The bulk of trade with African nations still centers on American imports of African oil. U.S. oil imports from Africa comprise nearly a quarter of American oil imports and promise to grow as new sources of oil continue to be found in West Africa. West African crude oil is less costly to produce and refine and there are no strategic choke points to inhibit its transport – just open ocean to American refineries.
Moreover, African nations have abundant minerals on which our modern economy relies. Nearly 80 percent of the strategic minerals the U.S. needs need originate in Africa. An estimated 97 percent of the world's platinum is from Africa, as well as 90 percent of the cobalt, 80 percent of the chromium, 64 percent of the manganese, half the world's gold reserves and as much as a third of all uranium. In recent years, the mineral coltan, largely coming from Africa, has enabled the development of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. We would be hard-pressed to construct jet aircraft, automobile catalytic converters or iPods without the minerals found in Africa, and in some cases, almost nowhere else in the world.
Senator McCain has expressed his desire to work with African partners on issues of mutual concern, and there is every reason to believe he is sincere in that sentiment and has the support to make it happen.
His main Africa adviser, Professor J. Peter Pham of James Madison University, has impressed broad audiences with his knowledge of Africa in his writings, at congressional hearings and at appearances on behalf of Senator McCain.
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There are also other Republicans who can provide advice on Africa to a McCain administration, such as Richard Williamson, our special envoy to Sudan; U.S. ambassador to Tanzania Mark Green; Senators Sam Brownback and Norm Coleman, staunch supporters of various Africa legislation; Congressman Ed Royce, the successful House floor leader for AGOA; Congressman Chris Smith, the relentless battler against modern-day slavery; Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, champion of legislation to address the scourge of child soldiers; and Congressman John Boozman, founder of the congressional West Africa Caucus.
So Africa need not depend on Senator Obama to win to have its issues addressed by a new U.S. administration. Republicans do just fine on Africa.
Gregory Simpkins is vice president for policy and program development for the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation. He served as a professional staff member for the U.S. House of Representatives sub-committee on Africa policy issues under two Republican chairmen.
