Washington, DC — Following is the text of a speech by Donald M. Payne, Democratic member of Congress from the 10th district of New Jersey, at the Embassy of Ghana, as part of the Ambassador Andrew Young Lecture Series sponsored by the Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa.
Let me first express my profound appreciation to the Africa Society for organizing this event. I am humbled that you all took time to participate in this forum. It clearly demonstrates how much you care about Africa. As the saying goes, once you get the "Africa Bug" it stays with you for a life time. I caught the bug some three decades ago.
Many people have written off Africa as a basket case and irrelevant to U.S. interests. Indeed, there are still a lot of people whose views of Africa are limited to disasters and civil wars. My view, and that of others, differs quite a bit. Engagement with Africa is a vital U.S. interest. From the war on terrorism to the supply of crucial resources, from the campaign against threatening diseases to the opportunities for economic trade and investment, Africa is a key global player. We ignore the continent at our own peril.
Africa matters in many ways. Trade and investments with Africa are growing. In 2002, for example, total U.S. exports to Africa totaled over $5.8 billion, while U.S. imports were $18 billion. If we take Nigeria alone, the West African giant is the 5th largest supplier of petroleum to the United States, and other key oil-rich countries like Angola and Gabon play key roles in meeting U.S. strategic resource requirements. While oil is clearly a source of U. S. interest it is also something that must be dealt with closely and carefully. Some of us know all too well that the extraction of oil and other precious resources found on the continent have sparked, funded, and exacerbated brutal wars which led to some of the greatest human rights abuses of our time. It is with this in mind that many are watching carefully and weighing in to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that these atrocities do not occur anymore. A major step was taken in the House recently when H.R.1584 (Houghton and Rangel), a bill to implement effective measures to stop trade in conflict diamonds, was passed and subsequently became public law on April 25th. Many of you know that this has long been a work in progress. It shows how tragedy can sometimes spawn real progress and change.
Africa is also making important gains in promoting democracy. The 1990s saw the spread of democracy across the continent of Africa, once dominated by military dictators and authoritarian leaders. Nigeria held its second multi-party elections this month, and despite reported irregularities, the elections were largely peaceful. The world also witnessed the end of white minority rule and subsequent democratic elections in South Africa, as well as the implementation of the important Truth and Reconciliation Commission headed by Bishop Tutu. The ghastly civil war in Sierra Leone has finally come to an end and prospects for a just and lasting peace in Angola appear promising, although there is a great humanitarian situation that must be addressed. The transitional arrangements in Burundi are also moving forward, despite some serious challenges ahead. The Democratic Republic of Congo is also heading in the right direction.
The 1990s, a decade of progress, were also marred by civil wars and ethnic clashes. The civil war in Sudan continues unabated with two million killed and millions more displaced. The current talks in Kenya between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM are promising; but too early to be optimistic. In Rwanda, an estimated one million people were brutally murdered in 1994, while the international community watched with indifference. This year Rwanda is expected to hold multi-party elections. And the senseless war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, once staunch allies, killed an estimated 75,000 people and disrupted the lives of many more in less than two years. It is pivotal for both parties to remain committed to the peace agreement they signed in 2000. Ethiopia must respect the Border Commission's decision.
Despite the appearance of a proliferation of conflicts recently, the fact the matter is Africa is more peaceful today than the 1980s and 1990s. But the most serious challenge to peace, stability, health, economic growth, and basic survival facing Africa today is the AIDS pandemic: its social, economic, and political impact will be devastating for millions of Africans for years to come. In the past decade alone an estimated 17 million Africans died of AIDS. Of the 40 million people infected with HIV worldwide, an estimated 30 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa alone, 20 percent of the adult population or 4.2 million people, are infected. In Botswana, an estimated 40 percent of the adult population is infected. Of these, many will die, leaving behind millions of AIDS orphans, a potential social powder keg. The Bush Administration's $15 billion HIV/AIDS Initiative provides an opportunity to save millions of lives. But Congress must pass this legislation without much delay and without amendments which will cut the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund.This will be considered on the House floor tomorrow.
Africa needs increased resources to deal with multiple challenges facing the continent. U.S. assistance to Africa has been stagnant for many years Real development assistance to Africa is less than $500 million for the entire continent. Although total U.S. assistance to Africa may total about $2 billion, a large chunk is going for humanitarian or health related programs. I am not suggesting that these are not important priorities, but rather we must focus on strengthening Africa's own capacity to be self sufficient. Despite increases in the President's Fiscal Year 2004 request, there are some key cuts, including in the areas of agriculture, democracy, conflict, and humanitarian assistance, and business, trade, and investment. We must strengthen and expand AGOA. We must step up agricultural assistance and improve the capacity of rural African farmers to not only produce but also to get their products to market and be able to compete in the free market. African trade is increasingly challenged by hefty subsidies to U.S. and European farmers. As the world witnesses the famine in eastern and southern Africa, we must recognize the links between investing in agricultural development and averting famine.
The Bush Administration's Millennium Challenge Account Initiative is an important commitment by this Administration to increase funding for development purposes.
However, I have serious concerns about the goals of the initiative, eligibility criteria, and the administration of the initiative. MCA will be run by a corporation made up of a CEO and a staff of 100. The Board will be chaired by the Secretary of State, while the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Treasury Department will be represented. What is missing is the development arm of our government-USAID. A Corporation setup to administer $5 billion in development funding over three years with no leadership by any development expert is strikingly ironic. Congress is also left out in this process in the administration's proposal. The eligibility requirements and the selection process are also very rigid. Under current guidelines not even a handful African countries will qualify to receive assistance.
Despite the daunting challenges facing Africa, the prospects are not entirely bleak. This is a momentous period in Africa with the rebirth of the OAU in the form of the African Union and the launching of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), a staunch advocate for the strengthening of relations between the peoples of Africa and the U.S., especially the African-American community, is resolute to seize the moment. The CBC is determined to set the tone and define a clear agenda for Africa.
The Black Caucus is convinced that strengthening cultural, political, and economic ties with Africa is good for America as well as the people of Africa. The CBC cannot afford to wait on the margins or observe from a distance. We must be actively engaged in what matters to our community since our destiny is tied with that of the rest of the world, especially with Africa.
Africa, with its abundant natural resources and untapped human talent, matters economically, strategically, and politically. The African-American community has the means and talent to help Africa. Success in Africa brings prosperity and dignity to our community in America.
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The CBC will help to intensify and expand U.S. engagement in Africa in order to effectively deal with the multiple challenges facing the continent and our community in the United States. But we must have a clear vision and strategy, if both sides are to benefit from this relationship. We must avoid being too pessimistic about Africa, but we should also be practical and pragmatic. We can and will establish a strong foundation for partnership with Africa.
We are proud of our contributions during the struggle against the racist regime in South Africa and our struggle for liberation of African countries. But we must also remind ourselves of our failures during the Rwandan genocide and the ongoing genocide in Sudan. Our country and the international community turned a blind eye in the face of a gruesome genocide in Rwanda in 1994. As a nation and the world's sole superpower, we have a moral obligation to protect helpless civilians in the face of a genocide.
Over the past year, a group of committed Africanists in the NGO community and I have been meeting to craft a document to mobilize our community and define clear achievable objectives for the CBC and the U.S. Congress. We will use this document to energize our constituencies to be more engaged in African matters. We have a draft of the document and have begun consultations with our African partners. We will consult with you and take your recommendations as we move forward with this important project.
A well thought out policy of engagement is in the U.S. national interest. The good that can be accomplished is huge; the means are largely at hand; what has been lacking, so far, in American foreign policy is the will.
Let me conclude here by quoting an Ibo proverb: "The rain does not recognize anyone as a friend; it drenches all equally."
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my views on Africa.
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