Telescopic analysis: Clinton’s 7-Nation Africa Tour-a carrot and stick policy? Week # 79

Hillary Clinton wrapped up her 7 nation Africa tour last Friday (14th Aug, 2009). The 11-day trip was her first, as the secretary of state, to sub-Saharan Africa, where some had feared the continent was not an early priority for the Obama administration.
Clinton sought to build ties with three African powers -- Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa -- and showed support for three nations recovering from conflict -- Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia --while also stopping in small US ally Cape Verde.
The trip followed a visit to Ghana last month by Obama, where he appealed to Africans to hold their governments accountable and fight corruption. While broadly the message communicated to the continent by Clinton included Obama administration’s commitment to Africa and the affirmation that Africa's people deserve better from their governments; some speculate that there was little new in the way of policy. No fresh initiatives on trade or aid were initiated and nothing concrete was broached about America's future military role in Africa, a controversial subject.
Fears regarding Somalia becoming a new haven for al-Qaeda affiliates were quite significant. The secretary of state conferred with the Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who is struggling to fend off a three-month-old insurgent offensive. She pledged, on behalf of the US, to provide more military aid and training to the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
Africom, the force that oversees US security interests on the continent, remains based in Germany and there was nothing said about possible plans for a military base on African soil.
Along with gender issues, food security and showing support for post civil war progress, the secretary of state also focused on strengthening economic ties with the continent on the whole. Strengthening relations with Nigeria and Angola, two major US suppliers of gas and oil, were also significant. "The administration is placing more responsibility on Africans themselves for resolving their problems and improving economic development," said David H. Shinn, a former U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia. "Having said that, I believe the secretary's visit will produce some 'good cop' rhetoric to offset the 'tough cop' remarks of the president."[1]

Questions for Discussion :

· Could America be competing to hold on to a resource rich continent’s attention against China, which seems to be fast gaining a foot hold in Africa?

· Clinton’s agenda for the recent African tour spanned topics including strengthening democratic mores, good governance, fighting corruption, economic ties, gender issues, health issues, post conflict progress and affirmation of American support for the continent. Some opined there was too much on the American plate for the short trip which might hinder credible developments. Would you agree or disagree?

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