By Fasalie Kamara
US State Department yesterday interacted with African journalists through video and audio links to sound opinions on the country’s foreign policy on the continent.
Journalists across different countries in Africa sent in messages through the state department’s website on different issues common but also peculiar to different countries across the continent.
Responding to questions from Sierra Leone regarding the spate of corruption, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfieldsaid “if corruption is not addressed, your country will not prosper”, noting that the United States was closely monitoring corruption in the world and was concerned about the fight against graft in Africa.
Most of the questions sent in from South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria bordered on state security, in particular the Westgate shopping mall attack in Kenya and the fight against terrorism in Africa generally.
AFRICOM Commanding General, David M. Rodriguezpromised to strengthen the capacity of Africa in the fight against terrorism and assured of United States’ support to the African Union mission in fighting terrorists.
He was particular about the Al-Shabaab in Somalia, terrorists in Mali and Buko Haram in Nigeria, and therefore assured that the State Department would support Africa through the AU fight against such terrorist organisations.
Gen Rodriguez also raised the issue of the Renamo fighters in the Southern African country of Mozambique, the rebel takeover in Chad, and the refugee situations in Africa.
“United States is not only concerned with the refugees in Africa but refugees from other parts of the world,” they said, adding that that was why they supported local integration policies for refugees.
Asked if US would cut down on their support to security in Africa, Rodriguez said he were not aware.
Speaking to journalists at the US Embassy in Freetown the Public Affairs Officer, Boa Lee said that that was part of the US strategy to inform journalists and engage them on what the United States was doing.
(C) Politico 24/10/13
