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Bush Policies in Africa 'Constructive,'
But Skepticism Persists
By Stephen Mbogo
CNSNews.com Correspondent
February 15, 2008
Nairobi, Kenya (CNSNews.com) - As President Bush begins a visit to
Africa Friday, commentators say some of his administration's
actions have had a constructive impact on relations, although
skepticism remains, particularly in the field of security-related
policies.
Among the benefits seen are improved governance, education and
projects helping AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis patients.
"I think is has been very important for some of the U.S.
assistance to the continent to be linked to good economic and
political governance," said Kwame Owino, an economist with the
Nairobi-based Institute of Economic Affairs.
Tairus Barasa, a research fellow at the Institute of Policy
Analysis and Research in Nairobi, said that Bush initiatives like
AIDS funding were helping the continent to meet the Millennium
Development Goals, specific targets U.N. member states have agreed
to achieve by 2015.
Some analysts say U.S. military engagement is important when it
comes to improving the capacity of African armies to respond to
terrorism and other challenges. The U.S. subsidizes some national
armies and has trained more than 44,000 peacekeepers from 19
African countries.
These include more than 80 percent of African peacekeepers
currently deployed in African Union and United Nations
peacekeeping missions, both inside and outside of Africa,
according to National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.
The U.S. deploys an 1,800-strong Combined Horn of Africa Task
Force based in Djibouti, and a warship sailing along the African
coastline trains militaries to respond to maritime security
threats.
Established last October, the US Africa Command (Africom) is due
to be fully operational by October this year.
Some military initiatives have received a critical reception.
Owino said some actions taken by Washington after 9/11 created a
wedge between many Africans and the U.S., particularly the war
against Iraq and disputes about its legality.
"Africans generally have a lot of respect for the U.N.," he said.
"While sub-Saharan Africans generally admire the American people,
the [perceived] anti-U.N. actions made them hate the Bush
administration."
The war prompted some Africans to worry that their countries could
come under attack if their governments did not agree with U.S.
policies, he said.
Bush's Feb. 15-21 visit will be his second to the continent. In
July 2003 he visited Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda and
Nigeria. This time, Bush will visit Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana
and Liberia.
In the West African nation of Benin, an agreement with the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has helped to reform
national policy on microfinance, benefiting small farmers and
entrepreneurs. The country has also launched a major
U.S.-supported anti-malaria campaign.
The MCC is a U.S. body designed to work with some of the poorest
countries in the world on the principle that aid is most effective
when it reinforces good government and economic freedom.
Tanzania and Ghana are credited with making significant gains,
while Rwanda has initiated social, economic and justice programs
aimed at helping to transform the lives of people affected by the
1994 genocide.
The U.S. has been instrumental in stabilizing civil-war-torn
Liberia and helping the political process that led to the election
of Africa's first elected woman leader, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Liberia is the only country to have publicly expressed interest in
hosting Africom.
Bush's visit will focus largely on promoting development, growth,
security and disease-fighting. Hadley said in a pre-trip briefing
Wednesday that the president would discuss the ongoing instability
in Kenya with the leaders of all the countries he visits.
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