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AFRICAN ODYSSEY
What role should the U.S. take in Africa? April 2, 1998 |
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[Editor's Note: Professor Zartman declined to answer the questions.]
Questions asked
in this forum:
Why would African nations consider "help" from the United States or anyone else? In what ways can America demonstrate its commitment to human rights in Africa? Will President Clinton's trip to Africa produce any results? Is the policy of "trade not aid" the right focus of this trip? Will economic ties foster democratic development in Africa?
Selected highlights of President Clinton's 11-day Africa Tour:
April 3, 1998
Day 11: Sengeal - Mr. Clinton speaks from Goree Island, the place where millions of Africans began their forced journey to the "New World."
March 26, 1998
Day 4: South Africa - Clinton talks about the country as "an affirmation of humanity at its best."
March 25, 1998
Day 3: Rwanda - Clinton apologizes to the beleagured nation for failing to act quickly on its behalf.
March 24, 1998
Day 2: A review of Clinton's stops in Ghana, and Uganda, and on an Africa "Renaissance."
NewsHour Backgrounders:
January 7, 1998
Violence between the Hutus and Tutsis has resumed in the northern part of Rwanda.
January 5, 1998
Daniel arap Moi begins his fifth term as president of Kenya.
December 4, 1997
Is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission healing South Africa?
May 22, 1997
Laurent Kabila comes to power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Browse the NewsHour's coverage of the Africa.
OUTSIDE LINKS
White House
Bureau of African Affairs
Africa News Online
Promoting economic development, human rights and democracy, President Clinton is on the longest trip of his presidency. He will visit six nations - Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana, and Senega - in 11 days. It is the first visit by an American president to Africa in nearly 20 years.
For the most part, Mr. Clinton has chosen to visit countries that represent a "new" Africa - one of relative political stability and economic growth. The president has spoken of an "African Renaissance," and has repeatedly stated that the U.S. wants to take a leading role in Africa's integration into the global economy. The Clinton administration hopes to achieve this primarily through its policy of "trade not aid." (See sidebar.)
In addition to economic development, President Clinton has met with leaders of Central and East Africa to discuss the need for stability in the region. A more peaceful and prosperous Africa, he has stated, is in America's best interests, as well as those of the world.
"TRADE NOT AID"
The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, which the House of Representatives has already approved and the Senate is now considering, is the backbone for President Clinton's "trade not aid" policy.The legislation seeks to promote privatization of government enterprises throughout Africa by rewarding the sale of state assets to U.S. investors. Africa nations with American joint ventures would be allowed to export to the U.S free of tariffs or quotas. If passed, the bill could provide countries desperate for capital with billions of dollars in trade and investment over the next ten years.
Many African leaders are hailing the plan "as a benefit for Africa, first," according to Dumisani Khumalo, a senior South African Foreign Ministry official. He believes the proposed trade agreements would bring about thousands of jobs, and make otherwise sluggish industries, efficient. But critics argue that the new policies would allow foreign corporations to buy African resources at fire-sale prices and exploit low-wage African labor.
"This bill nakedly and unqualifiedly promotes the interests of American business," said one vocal foe, Randall Robinson of the lobbying group TransAfrica. "It should be called the African recolonization act, because the United States and Europe have the money and would grab the assets."
But does President Clinton's plan do enough? Is it the right plan for Africa? Will economic relations encourage democratic development in Africa? What role should the U.S. take in Africa?
Answering your questions are Mr. Francis Deng, Professor Willard Johnson. and Professor William Zartman.
Mr. Francis M. Deng, former Foreign Minister of State for the Sudan, currently is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Dr. Johnson, professor of political science emeritus at MIT, is also a senior advisor to the Boston Pan African Forum.
And Professor Zartman is the Director of African Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
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