My first meeting (2018) with South Sudan delegation as US AsstSecState I laughed when they asked for funding to conduct elections. Aside from stealing oil money, they weren't serious then and obviously they aren't now. Maybe IC finally catching on to scam
state.gov/un-secretary-g…

Smart of China to focus resources on training young African journalists - and giving scholarships to African university students. It's something the US did so well during Cold War but we seem to have forgotten how to use 'soft power.' They act we lecture!
africacenter.org/spotlight/chin…

On the one hand Im relieved to see US Govt provide additional $154 million in humanitarian aid to Ethiopia. But Im also devastated that Ethiopia is suffering from a cascade of crises (most human produced) which require it. How soon national reconciliation?
state.gov/united-states-…

Great to see Ukraine opening embassies in Africa. Those familiar with the Continent know that being present and cultivating personal contacts is key to succeeding in relationship-oriented cultures. US also needs more staffing at its AF Embassies.
theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-af…

To-the-point statement by US SecState Blinken on anniversary of Sudan Conflict. Good to see US announcing more humanitarian aid. Tragedy that after 1 year of war peace still in hands of two generals and their international supporters, not civilized world.
state.gov/secretary-anto…

So China has to bribe African runners to slow down at the end of Beijing half-marathon to make sure a Chinese runner finished first!!? Does China lack that much self-confidence that it has to go to such lengths to 'save face'? Pathetic!
theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr…

“ #Sudan is described as a forgotten crisis. I’m starting to wonder how many people knew about it in the first place to forget about it.” apnews.com/article/sudan-…

Enlightening SCBC TV interview with Dr. Chris Fomunyoh (NDI Sr Director Ctr + West Africa) on indignities and basic second-class citizenship Cameroon's Anglophones suffer historically. At minimum Cameroon's Francophone Regime should acknowledge this fact.
youtube.com/watch?v=5E5EMs…

Delighted that US Senate is moving forward to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for 16 years, and including provisions to bring it up to date with current environment (e.g. Africa Free Trade agreement). Hope it passes quickly.
theafricareport.com/344050/us-sena…

Having just been to Canada to see how 80% Anglophone majority treats the Francophone minority with dignity makes me grieve for Cameroon's Ambazonians. If only Cameroon's Francophone regime dealt with their Anglophones the same way, there would be no Ambazonia conflict. Tragic!

Russian troops arrival in Niger shows sad failure of US Sahel policy. Will they now occupy $200 million airbases US built? We must learn to put down the megaphone and deal with countries as they are, not as we want them to be! Maybe someday we will!
bbc.com/news/world-afr…

Excellent piece by al-Jazeera on why Cameroon is one of the most dangerous places for journalists, especially those doing investigative reporting on high level corruption cases. As the ancient saying goes - A fish rots from the head on down!
institute.aljazeera.net/en/ajr/article…

Kenya has good intentions in proposing a regional port deal for landlocked countries in region but realistically each countries' case is different and is IGAD the best org for formulating? What have they successfully accomplished? Sovereignty matters.
reuters.com/world/africa/k…

Anyone saying world values Africa same as other places need look at Sudan. After 1 year of war 9 million displaced, 1 million fled country, thousands killed-UN asked for $2.7 Billion for humanitarian needs and received only $155 million (6%). Shame on us!
apnews.com/article/sudan-…

Good that at least a fraction of the #USA 🇺🇸 taxpayer funds disbursed through U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia was well spent on Somaliland Coast Guard instead of wasted with the useless regime in Mog. But are our diplomats there aware that rump #Somalia 🇸🇴’s flag hasn’t been flown in #Somaliland since 1991?

Amazing. The Nigerian minister, now suspended, of 'poverty alleviation,' may have stolen over $20 million that she hid in 50 bank accounts. Unless government officials stop plundering money from their own people, Africa has little chance of developing. It really is that simple.

Excerpts from my “Addis Dialogue” interview with Shiferaw Lakew about the MOU between #Ethiopia 🇪🇹 & #Somaliland , political realities in the Horn of Africa, and regional security & prosperity were translated into Amharic and broadcasted yesterday by EBC WORLD. See the video:…

For America to have an effective Africa policy one of the main things is to drop the megaphone and let our capable ambassadors engage with their host governments diplomatically. Instead, we issue public statements from Washington. Counterproductive with predictable results.

To help Ethiopian public universities understand the process of accrediting their engineering programs, the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia, in collaboration with Ministry of Education and Institute of International Education (IIE), held an accreditation workshop for leaders from ten universities on April 4 and 5 in…

This is not only a rebuke of DIRCO South Africa Minister Naledi Pandor’s sorry “diplomatic” effort in Washington, but also a clear warning that #SouthAfrica 🇿🇦’s inclusion in any renewal of the #USA 🇺🇸’s #AGOA preferential trade program for #Africa is hardly a sure thing — nor should it be.