Terror, China's reach top Clinton agenda in Africa
Published July 31, 2012
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Growing security threats from Islamist militants and China's
increasing influence throughout Africa are topping the agenda as Secretary
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton begins an 11-day swing around the continent.
Clinton departs Tuesday for her latest marathon overseas journey, which will
take her to at least six African nations, including the world's newest
country, South Sudan, as well as Uganda, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa.
She will start the tour in Senegal, where U.S. officials say she will give a
speech warning African states about the potential perils of Chinese
investment, which many development experts claim enriches China at Africa's
expense. She will say that proper development will blunt the appeal of
extremist groups that are gaining power in Nigeria and Mali and still
threaten Somalia.
Without mentioning China by name, Clinton will urge African leaders to
carefully consider projects proposed by foreign countries that do not demand
complete accountability and may encourage corruption to the detriment of the
people of some of the world's most impoverished nations, according to the
officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to preview the speech.
The United States is increasingly concerned about China's growing interest
in Africa, the result of its massive demand for energy and natural resources
to fuel its exploding economy. U.S. officials, including Clinton, have in
the past expressed deep reservations that China is exploiting Africa's raw
materials without regard for human rights and democratic principles.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement that
Clinton will use the speech in Dakar to laud Senegal's democracy and
"highlight America's approach to partnership" across Africa.
Other officials said she would call on Africa's elites and peoples to
recognize that their best chances for achieving good governance and better
living standards lie with cooperation with responsible partners, like the
U.S.
From Senegal, Clinton will traverse the continent to visit South Sudan,
Uganda and Kenya.
In South Sudan, she will congratulate leaders on the anniversary of the
creation of their country after it split with Sudan. But she also will
stress the need for the nascent state to make "progress in negotiations with
Sudan to reach agreement on issues related to security, oil and
citizenship."
Worsening relations between Juba and Khartoum have threatened to re-ignite
what had been Africa's longest-running civil war when it ended with a
historic peace treaty in 2005. Clinton will be visiting as the United
Nations debates possible new measures to ease unresolved tensions that have
risen steadily since South Sudan became independent.
In Uganda, where the U.S. recently has deployed a small number of special
forces troops to help African militaries combat the brutal Lord's Resistance
Army of Joseph Kony, Clinton will return to the security theme.
She will highlight the fact that Uganda is a "key U.S. partner" in regional
security efforts and note that American troops are also training Ugandan
soldiers, who make up the biggest contingent of an African Union force
operating in Somalia to help defend the largely powerless government there
from Islamic militants.
Clinton is also expected to raise human rights issues, particularly those
related to the gay and lesbian communities in Uganda, which have come under
increasing attack from conservative religious figures and lawmakers.
From Uganda, Clinton will travel to Kenya, where in addition to urging
Kenyan leaders to hold peaceful, free and fair national elections in 2013,
she will also meet Somali officials and underscore U.S. support for
completing a planned political transition later in August.
After a brief stop in Malawi, Clinton then heads to South Africa, where she
will continue a strategic dialogue with South African officials, promote
U.S. business in the country and pay her respects to former President Nelson
Mandela, who recently celebrated his 94th birthday.
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Received on Tue Jul 31 2012 - 07:38:11 EDT
