Congressional delegation concludes visit to Ghana and Israel

BY JIBRIL TURE

A delegation of twelve U.S. lawmakers led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York), has concluded a weeklong visit to Ghana, West Africa and Israel. At the end of his first foreign trip as Minority Leader, Jeffries sounded up-beat about the trip, as a contributing factor to U.S. relations with both nations. Read more

United States assumes leading role in Sudan ceasefire

BY JIBRIL TURE

According to a statement just released by the office of the Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces have agreed to a nationwide ceasefire starting tonight, Aprill 24, at midnight.   The ceasefire is expected to last only 72 hours, but the U.S. government has asked the two parties “to immediately and fully uphold the ceasefire.” Read more

Secretary Blinken contributed to arranging Sudan ceasefire

BY JIBRIL TURE

According to a statement attributed to the State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken “participated today in a special ministerial session under the leadership of African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki.” The statement, which was released late in the evening, also said that “African, Arab, regional and international partners and organizations joined the session.”  The leaders agreed unanimously on the urgent need for an Eid al-Fitr ceasefire “to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and to pave the way for a more permanent ceasefire.” Read more

Takeaway from Vice President Kamala Harris’s trip to Africa

BY SOUMANOU SALIFOU

Vice President Kamala Harris’s just-completed nine-day trip to Africa was the reaffirmation of the Biden administration’s commitment to partner with Africa, as the president stated during the Second U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit he convened last December in Washington. The vice president was the highest member of the administration to visit the continent, in the complicated global context of Russia’s return to Africa using its military cronies, at a time when African economies, already brought on their knees by the pandemic, are in shambles as a consequence of the war in Ukraine in which half of African leaders have virtually sided with Russia. What are the gains of the vice president’s trip in this global context unfavorable to the United States’ overture toward Africa, given that China is Africa’s largest trade partner and African leaders look to Beijing whose economic assistance comes with no pre-condition—unlike that of the United States? Read more

Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Africa this month

BY PETER SESAY

Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to start a week-long visit to three African countries in a little over a week from today, as yet another sign of the Biden administration’s pledge to build strong relations with a continent where U.S. biggest rival, China, boasts strong partners. Read more

Mauritanian President El Ghazouani meets with U.S. envoy

BY JIBRIL TURE

U.S. Ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom, Rashad Hussain, traveled to Nouakchott, Mauritania, this week and met with several African leaders who were in the Mauritanian capital to attend the two-day summit on fighting corruption and dealing with the continent’s humanitarian and security crises. Read more

Is the U.S. arrogant and disrespectful as some claim?

BY STEVE OGAH

Meetings between African heads of state and their American counterparts have always been heartwarming for African Leaders. The highly anticipated Second U.S.-Africa Leaders was held just last month in Washington. But there is more to the discussions. Read more

President Joe Biden strikes a new tone about Africa

BY JIBRIL TURE

In a message delivered in early February by video to African leaders meeting virtually in the context of the African Union annual summit, President Biden struck a tone that departed sharply from four years of the Trump administration. In what was his first speech to an international forum as president, Biden stated: “The United States stands ready now to be your partner in solidarity, support and mutual respect.” Read more

President Joe Biden hosts South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House

BY JIBRIL TURE

President Joe Biden hosted his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, at the White House this Friday afternoon. Prior to their talks, the two leaders stated their common commitment to strengthen bilateral ties. Read more 

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Kerry’s Travel to Nigeria and Senegal

BY JIBRIL TURE

In a statement attributed to the U.S. State Department’s spokesperson, Ned Price, on September 9, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to Abuja, Nigeria, September 12-13 and Dakar, Senegal, September 14-15. Read more

U.S. welcomes the arrival of Ukrainian grain to help ease hunger in Africa

BY JIBRIL TURE

In a statement attributed to the U.S. State Department’s spokesperson, Ned Price, on Tuesday, August 30, the United States government welcomes the arrival in Djibouti of 23,300 metric tons of Ukrainian grain aboard the ship Brave Commander. Read more

The United States concerned by renewed hostilities in Ethiopia

BY JIBRIL TURE

In a statement released today, Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States is concerned by reports of renewed hostilities in Ethiopia. In that statement, the top U.S diplomat stated: Read more 

United States imposes sanctions on Sierra Leone’s officials

BY JIBRIL TURE

In a statement attributed on Tuesday, August 15 to the U.S. State Department’s spokesperson, Ned Price, the U.S. government announced the imposition of sanctions on several Sierra Leonian officials. The following is the full text of the statement Read more 

U.S. acknowledges Mali’s timetable to bring back democracy

BY JIBRIL TURE

The U.S. government on Friday said it “acknowledges the announcement by Mali’s transition government of a 24-month transition timetable starting in March 2022.” Relaying the remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, State Department spokesperson “We urge the Malian transition government to make sustained, tangible action toward holding elections, including detailed benchmarks and the early adoption of the electoral law.” Mr. Blinked adds that Read more 

U.S. government’s actions and statement about Africa

BY JIBRIL TURE

The United States welcomes the progress in securing more regular access for humanitarian assistance to communities in need in the Afar Amhara, and Tigray regions of Ethiopia. Read more

U.S. Government actions and statements this week

BY JIBRIL TURE

Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Democratic Republic of the Congo Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula in Washington, D.C.Read more

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Raychelle Omiano 

In a statement attributed to the U.S. State Department’s spokesperson, Ned Price, on Thursday, May 26, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke on Wednesday, May 25, with Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Raychelle Omamo. The two top diplomats “discussed steps to address the impact of rising global food insecurity on Africa, following discussions in New York last week at the Global Food Security Call to Action Ministerial.” Read more