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Africa News Report - 1202

A selection of State.gov, IIP Digital and DipNote Articles on Africa.

March 12-18, 2012

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Peace, Human Rights and Democracy: Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius

		Some Gains Against Somali Piracy; Fight Continues Measurable progress is being made to combat Somali piracy.

	Statement	White House on ICC's Conviction of Congolese Warlord The United States welcomes the conviction by the International Criminal Court of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo for war crimes related to enlisting and conscripting children and forcing them to participate in hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

	Statement	State Dept. on ICC Conviction of Congolese Warlord The State Department says the conviction of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo “puts perpetrators and would-be perpetrators of unlawful child soldier recruitment and other atrocities on notice that they cannot expect their crimes to go unpunished."

	Statement	Secretary Clinton on Mauritius’ National Day On behalf of the United States, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sends best wishes to the people of Mauritius as they celebrate 44 years of independence on March 12.

North Africa: Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Morocco

		Making Case for Investing in Tunisia +Photo Tunisian American Young Professionals are telling American investors all about the opportunities the new Tunisia offers.

	Article	Young Diplomats Discuss Future of Egypt, Syria One year after political upheaval surged through the Middle East, the future role of the international community in this transition is still under debate.

	Remarks	Remarks at the United Nations Security Council

	Press Briefing	Secretary Clinton’s Press Briefing at United Nations Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks to the press at the United Nations about Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Mideast peace efforts.

	Statement	U.S. Envoy Rice on Anniversary of U.N. Libya Resolution U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice issues a statement on the one-year anniversary of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 on Libya.

	Remarks	Remarks With Moroccan Foreign Minister Saad-Eddine Al-Othmani Before Their Meeting Secretary Clinton and Moroccan Foreign Minister Saad-Eddine Al-Othmani discuss strengthening the Moroccan economy, expanding cooperation on security as well as regional and global issues.

	Statement	President Obama on Passing of Pope Shenouda III President Obama, on behalf of the American people, extends thoughts and prayers to Coptic Christians, Egyptians and all those who mourn the passing of Coptic Christian Pope Shenouda III.

	Statement	Secretary Clinton on Passing of Pope Shenouda III Secretary of State Clinton says Americans stand alongside Egyptians in offering deepest condolences on the passing of Coptic Christian Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church for more than 40 years.

Combat Human Trafficking

		U.S. Agencies Combine Efforts to Fight Human Trafficking Human trafficking is the target of cooperative U.S. government efforts.

		Photo of the Week: U.S. Commitment To Ending Modern Slavery This week's photo of the week comes to us from the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, of which U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton chaired the annual meeting at the White House on March 15. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 authorized the establishment of the President's Interagency Task Force (PITF) to coordinate federal efforts to combat human trafficking.

	Statement	President Obama on Trafficking in Persons President Obama comments on the meeting of the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, pledging an increased effort by the United States to fight modern-day slavery.

	Remarks	U.S. Officials on Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other U.S. officials speak at the annual meeting of the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Development in Africa

		Japan, U.S. Cooperating to Help Africa USAID and the Japan International Cooperation Agency announce a partnership to promote investment in water for sub-Saharan Africa.

		USAID Goal: Build Capacity, Not Dependence The Obama administration’s budget request for USAID in 2013 would allow the agency to feed, provide medical care and educate people in developing countries.

		USAID, Intel Expand Their Collaboration USAID and Intel Corporation have expanded their ongoing collaboration in the use of technology for economic and social development around the world.

	Taken Question	Sudan: Status of Sudan Economic Conference Question: Why has the economic conference in Turkey, that was to discuss Sudan's ailing finances after the south's secession, been postponed?

Environment, Tourism, and Development in Africa

		U.S., Cameroon College Promote Wildlife Conservation The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Without Borders program enters into a multiyear cooperative agreement with the Garoua Wildlife College in Cameroon that will enhance wildlife conservation in Central and West Africa.

		U.S. Supports Ecotourism, Growth in South Sudan The U.S. government inaugurates the Boma National Park Headquarters in a pristine wildlife area of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, drawing attention to the important role that establishing protected area management and local government infrastructure can play in the country’s development.

	Remarks	State Dept. Official on Africa Travel, Tourism State Department African affairs official Reuben Brigety discusses the growing role of travel and tourism in Africa's economic development.

Agriculture and Food Security

	DipNote Article	Water Pans and Trapezoidal Bunds: Life-Changing Tools in Kenya Though one sounds like a medical contraption and the other a geometry problem, water pans and trapezoidal bunds are actually vital instruments Kenyan herders and farmers can use to collect and preserve rainwater for human and livestock consumption and crop irrigation in areas regularly impacted by droughts.

		U.S. Steps Up Funding for Agriculture Research The United States has stepped up funding for research to develop new climate-resilient cereals, high-producing legumes and disease-resistant crops and livestock.

Global Health

		Partnership Will Help Train Health Professionals A new partnership between the Peace Corps, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Health Service Corps seeks to address health-professional shortages in developing countries.

		HIV Spikes in African-American Women; U.S. Pushes Awareness Women and girls, especially those who are poor and disadvantaged, have a special vulnerability to HIV/AIDS exposure. It's true in the United States and internationally, and campaigns are under way to heighten awareness of this risk and reduce gender inequality.

		Start with Women, Girls to Build Better Health for All The Obama administration is using the Global Health Initiative to help other nations build better health care systems. Advocates say the program is working when they start with the health needs of women and girls first.

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

		MCC Links Namibian Women with International Markets The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation’s investments in Namibia are helping women who produce indigenous natural products to reap higher incomes by selling those products in the international market.

	Factsheet	Millennium Challenge Corporation on Gender Equality The Millennium Challenge Corporation is committed to ensuring that gender is considered at all stages of its work with partner countries — from country selection and policy reform to project development and implementation.

	Article	U.S. Making New Investments to Prevent Violence on Women The State Department launches new investments to prevent gender-based violence as part of its campaign to contain the HIV/AIDS epidemic. And the White House announces a new director for domestic HIV/AIDS programs.

		Celebrating International Women’s Day by Investing in Women and Girls Ambassador Eric Goosby serves as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, and Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. As we observe Women's History Month throughout March, we celebrate the work pioneered by advocates, policymakers, and practitioners around the world to advance women's rights. Promoting the rights of women and addressing gender inequities and gender norms are essential steps to reducing HIV risk and increasing access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services -- for both women and men.

	Media Note	New Initiative Responds to Gender-Based Violence as Part of Global HIV Response On March 14 at the White House, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer and U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby announced a joint initiative to provide $4.65 million in small grants to grassroots organizations to address gender-based violence (GBV) issues.

	Media Note	U.S. Department of State Announces Expansion of TechWomen to Africa The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that TechWomen – an international exchange that uses technology as a means to empower women and girls worldwide – will expand to sub-Saharan Africa beginning in 2013. TechWomen will bring women working in the technology sector from Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to the United States for a four to six week mentoring program with their American counterparts in the United States.

	Photo Gallery	Women War Correspondents The 20th century saw women come into their own as war correspondents, but not without struggle for a place beside the men. World War II offered new opportunities for women journalists, and some of the best war coverage of that era came from women. Now new generations using new technologies carry on the courageous work of their predecessors.

U.S. Elections and Culture

	Schedule	U.S. Elections: 2012 Primary Schedule The dates for Republican primaries and caucuses are set for the 2012 presidential race.

	Photo Gallery	Jazz in America Learn about some of the great jazz performers in American history.