United States displays readiness to accord more concern to Africa. Focusing on the recent events of UN General Assembly, Assistant secretary of United States for African Affairs Tibor Nagy was interviewed pertaining to his participation in the US-Africa business roundtable, on bilateral meetings with African counterparts as well his interventions at UN high-level events on the particular places of Mali, Sahel and Sudan countries.
As the issue touches Ethiopia as well in the very respective of geopolitics of the horn of Africa region, The Ethiopian Herald has opened its door for international diplomats and strives to cater to the demand of esteemed readers.
In a telephonic press briefing to journalists drawn from various Africa media institutions, including the Ethiopian Herald, Tibor Nagy, dealt on the specific issues of Africa continent and other related aspects of the political situation of the world.
Ambassador Nagy has received numerous awards from the US Department of State in recognition of his services, including commendations for helping prevent famine in Ethiopia and supporting efforts to end the Ethiopian- Eritrea conflict. The telephone interview was conducted in The US-embassy here. Excerpts:
Question: Can you brief us about the main topical and sensible agendas in Africa continent?
Nagy: our Deputy Secretary of State Sullivan hosted a U.S.-Africa Business Roundtable which included African ministers, U.S. business executives and other senior U.S. persons to discuss our administration’s number one priority of very dramatically increasing trade and investment with the continent and some of the exciting tools that the U.S. Government now brings to that endeavor.
We talked about the new U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the doubling of funding, spent quite a bit of time talking about Prosper Africa. But what I was really excited about was to hear directly from the African ministers as to what they are doing in their environments to improve attractions for U.S. business people.
And then from the U.S. business executives and these are some of the major corporations that have long been on the continent. For example, I think General Electric has been on the continent for some incredible 120 years which just absolutely surprised me.
And of how they see the environment. Because as I have said over and over again, since I’ve been in this job now a little bit over a year, I know in my heart that U.S. businesses are exactly what Africa needs to bring the jobs that Africa’s young people need now and going to the future.
Other events that we held, I was able to participate in two high-level UN events, one on Mali and the Sahel and then another one on Sudan and unfortunately the Sahel is one of the more problematic areas on the continent. There has been serious deterioration over the last year. So the international community is very engaged on trying to figure out a way on how to address that.
Sudan was much, much more optimistic because the entire international community is extremely excited by the positive developments in Sudan and how we can help Sudan through its transition to a very successful outcome. I was joined by my team here in the Africa Bureau. And between us, I think we had 31 separate meetings with African leaders.
As I said, UN General Assembly week is speed dating for diplomats. Our Undersecretary for Political Affairs also co-hosted one of the high-level events and that was for Somalia. That’s another part of the continent which as we all know has been very problematic. But there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
Question: what does the United States propose to fight terrorist expansion in the Sahel?
Nagy: As I said, unfortunately the Sahel, of which we all know Chad is very much a part of, has been one of the more problematic issues across the continent last year. A year ago the situation and the extent of terrorist activity was basically within the Sahelian countries.
As we all know, very unfortunate events during last year that what I call a virus has spread to Burkina Faso. During my past year as Assistant Secretary, I had the privilege now traveling to 22 different countries, including many of the coastal states of West Africa. And I can tell you that the governments of those costal states are also quite concerned over the virus spreading further.
The best way to address this is the way doctors address viruses. It’s a multi-dimensional, multi-faceted approach. It cannot just be on the security side. Because if we address it uniquely on the security level, we can, working together, get rid of terrorists. But then what? If it is a blank space that is left, then who is going to fill that?
If we immediately do not have development, governance filling that space, then sometime later, another group of extremists will show up and in many cases are worse than the ones that left. So it has to be an absolutely multi-faceted approach working with the governments in the region, working with friends and partners across Africa and other friends and partners from further afield whether they’re in Europe or North America.
Luckily there’s an awful lot of communication. There’s an awful lot of coordination. We are all talking to each other to see what we can do better in the future so that we can start reversing this trend. Because we realize, we absolutely realize how much the people impacted are suffering from the scourge.
Question: You said that you have hope for Africa. Can you elaborate in this regard?
Nagy: Do I have hope for Africa? Yes, okay, I can certainly elaborate on that. I have been following Africa and living in Africa since 1978. From the time I arrive in Africa, I think until the time I die, I will remain an Afro-optimist, which is not to mean that Africa is always the continent of the future. I think that Africa is a continent of the here and now.
If you look at the statistics in Africa, some people are scared by the fact that Africa’s population will double between now and 2050. I am excited by that. Because to me, those millions and millions of young people represent a tremendous opportunity in terms of economic growth, prosperity and dynamism.
What we need, basically, is to get out of the way of those young people, which means better governance, better rules, better environments for business so that all those businesses around the world that want to invest in Africa will come in and invest in Africa and create jobs for all of those millions of young people.
Because they want, as I’ve said, exactly the same things that young people in America, China, India, Europe want, which is to have a chance at moving up the economic ladder, a chance to provide for their families, and a chance at that good life, which modern technology offers.
So yes, I am very much an Afro-optimist and I’m very bullish on Africa. And hopefully during this next year, I can get around to visiting the countries I have not been able to visit last year and again engage with the governments, engage with the business community to see how we can partner better.
Question: Would the United States say that they are satisfied with the progress and be able to reconsider extending direct support of South Sudan?
Nagy: Because right now, the entire international community is focused on having that transition government in place by November the 12th. That’s the expectation.
You know, on many international issues, there’s a plan A, a plan B and a plan C. Regarding South Sudan, there’s only a plan A. That means having that transition government in place by November the 12th.
We’ve had, not just me, I think a lot of the partners of South Sudan, have had extensive discussions with members of the government. We’ve had meetings of Friends of South Sudan and on and on and on. But everybody is focused on that.
Now, as far as the money goes, again, international communities’ point of view is, as we all know there have been some issues with corruption in the past. South Sudan has tremendous oil assets. South Sudan has significant revenues.
We believe that the South Sudanese government should be using some of its own resources towards that process, making strict accountability for the revenues, for the expenditures.
And once the international community is satisfied as to what use of that money is being put to, at that point we can maybe discuss additional support. Of course, the United States of America continues its support for humanitarian problems, for refugees, for those who innocent victims of circumstances. But as far as paying to help the transition, we believe South Sudan has its own resources that can be used towards that.
Question: could you provide some details in regards to Sudan’s new government and the U.S.’s removing the country from the list of state-sponsored terrorism?
Nagy: Over those decades, the United States of America, Congress, the administrations put together a number of laws that restricted on what we could and we could not do with Sudan. Fast forward to today to total change in the paradigm.
The United States now sees Sudan as a partner, sees Prime Minister Hamdok’s government as one that we can cooperate with. We are working with international partners to make sure that Sudan can succeed because we see Sudan now as transforming into a country which will promote stability in the region.
We hope to have full, normal relations with Sudan. We hope for a very prosperous Sudan that will afford its own citizens every opportunity and every economic benefit.
As far as the state sponsor of terrorism goes, this is also very important to note. You know if we could flip a switch and end it that would be one thing.
But the removing the state sponsor of terrorism designation, it is not an event, it is a process. We can work with Sudan and the new government to make that process go as quickly as possible, but I cannot sit here today and give you dates, how long, when will happen what because there are a number of legal constraints tied up in that process.
So while we sympathize with all of our friends around the world who are calling for an end to the state sponsor of terrorism, the United States of America has to follow the legal process working with the government of Sudan. And I can assure you we have a very cooperative relationship. We communicate with each other continuously.
We have an extremely energetic and effective special envoy, Ambassador Donald Booth who, I like to joke, but it’s really unfortunately not a joke, I say his office is onboard an airliner as he goes from country to country and conference to conference.
And we will be hosting here in Washington D.C. in the next couple of weeks, the next Friends of Sudan meeting which we, the United States started shortly after the events took a positive turn, where we get together and really discuss on how can do what to help Sudan succeed.
The Ethiopian Herald SUNDAY EDITION October 13, 2019
BY MEHARI BEYENE
