Pith Helmets, Lions and the Reality of Africa

By Lloyd O. Pierson ; Senior International Adviser for USASEF

         Readers expecting to visualize the Africa of Abbot and Costello, of Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, or picturing pith helmets and charging lions are going to be disappointed.  This is about an Africa that many don't see and this is the reality of why the United States should increase its focus on the sub-Sahara area of the Africa Continent from South Africa to Senegal and the Sahel area from Mauritania to Somalia.  Much of Africa has a vibrant economy and a number of foreign nations , including China,,Brazil, France, Portugal and India, are providing foreign assistance as well as multiplying trade and investment.  While the United States focus on Africa has increased , particularly under the leadership and guidance of former President George W. Bush, the U.S. has still not reached a cognitive level that Africa is a potential dynamo for American economic development. Every Member of Congress should be aware of the present and future in Africa. 

          America is getting there.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made several successful trips and Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Ambassador Johnnie Carson, who was formerly the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya, has enormous well earned respect and repeatedly emphasizes the importance of Africa in global affairs.  About the only thing many Americans know about Africa is the textbook description as the "dark continent" and television images of drought and war.  There is , however, a lot more and it is important to recognize what is the meaning of more and why it makes a difference to those living in America.  Africa can mean jobs for Americans.

          First, there is a a strong emotional attachment for many African Americans who trace their lineage to various African countries.  While most have not been to Africa, despite a desire to travel there, the umbilical with their genealogical birth line remains.  Although under different

circumstances, Africa is as much a part of U.S. history as Europe.  Africa itself has some of the world's great thinkers, and businessmen (Tony Elumelu from Nigeria, Tewolde GebreMarian from Ethiopia, Geoff Rothschild from South Africa and Admassu Tadesse  based in South Africa )were recently cited by the Corporate Council on Africa) as well as a rich history of music and art.  There is outstanding leadership such as Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kenya, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangrai in Zimbabwe, and President Blaise Campaore in Burkina Faso. There are First class, effective Ministers such as Minister of Finance Tendai Biti and Minister of Education David Coltart in Zimbabwe. The Africa Forum under the leadership of Dr. John Tesha is doing an outstanding job.  Second, Africa poses an enormous economic opportunity.  The GNP for most countries is on the rise and there is an increasing recognition that jobs and employment are the basis for stabilization and as a means to help keep the bad guys out.  In his 2005 inaugural speech, President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia talked eloquently about the past struggles with apartheid and colonization in what was then Southwest Africa,  He spoke about the effort to overcome apartheid, the courage that had been shown, and the lives lost and destroyed.  But he said it was now a new day and economic development had to be the priority throughout Africa. 

        
         It used to be pointed out that rusting cranes on top of half finished buildings was a hallmark of African architecture, but no more.  Skylines all across Africa are booming and even in many rural areas, such as Maun and Ghanzi in Botswana, Boike in Benin, and even the isolated Lodwar in northern Kenya is showing signs of development life.  There is a wonderful spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa, in some instances it may be just a matter of survival, but with U.S. help take a look at what the Tuaregs are doing around Agadez in Niger; the San in Namibia and Botswana, and the Turkana in Kenya.  Despite a failed state, Somalia reportedly has the highest per capita use of cell phones in the world. The "winds of change" that earlier marked the ending of the cold war and of apartheid are now blowing in the direction of the private sector and economic development.  Florie Liser, the United States Trade Representative often quotes the Blair Report estimating that a one percent increase in Africa trade would generate over $70 billion in revenue -- nearly three times the current foreign development assistance.  Africa's vast hydrocarbon and mineral resources currently form the basis for most U.S. imports, but as a result of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and other efforts, the trade activity in other sectors is increasing.

         In addition to the heritage and economic development, Africa's environment needs to be elevated in terms of U.S. foreign policy and assistance.  Almost all are knowledgeable that the largest rain forest in the world is the Amazon, but how many can name the second largest and second most important.  The answer is the Congo River Basin, a vast area encompassing borders with eight different African countries.  Beset by internal conflicts, bush meat and exotic animal hunters, and timber companies, a lot of the area resources are being depleted.  Efforts and collaboration are being made to control the depletion, but not enough.  There is barely any public attention to the second largest rain forest in  the world.

         Parallel, however, to the optimistic view of Africa, there are events occurring that will impact the Continent and threaten the national security of the United States.  The rise of Islamic fundamentalism poses a threat to many countries as there have already been U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and Boko Haran actions in Abuja, Jos, and Kano in Nigeria.  U.S. military activity under the command of Africom and the large, and getting larger U.S. base Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti speak to the need of American armed forces presence.  The takeover of the northern Mali area from Timbuctu to Gao and impending military intervention by ECOWAS and other forces is as significant a development as has occurred in years.  The recent front page lead article by the Wall Street Journal entitled, "Terror Fight Shifts to Africa" points out many of the identical concerns that the U.S. has had in Afghanistan and Iraq.

         
        Still burdened by conflicts, extremely high unemployment rates among youth, corrupt officials, severe droughts, and poor infrastructure, there remain many challenges in Africa.  The reality of Africa is that there are many opportunities for the United States and the Continent can no longer be an afterthought for policymakers.

Lloyd O. Pierson is Senior International Adviser for the United States Africa Sports and Education Foundation.   He has headed two U.S. Government agencies, been appointed to senior Administration positions by three U.S. Presidents, and was nominated by President George W. Bush as the Administrator for Africa at the United States Agency for International Development.  He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.