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White House officials such as Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden have crisscrossed the African continent this year to implement what President Joe Biden described as a partnership between the United States and African nations. . Various U.S. government officials, including members of Congress, also travel across the continent and hold low-profile jobs.
VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell sat down with Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who has been a frequent visitor to Africa for many years.
“This is a continent of incredible potential and opportunity,” Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its Africa Subcommittee, told VOA. If we can work closely with young African countries to address some of the major challenges of our century, such as development and urbanization, we can solve the world’s problems.”
Coons also spoke about his upcoming participation in a classified Senate briefing on the recent leak of over 100 classified documents by members of the U.S. Air National Guard.
These documents document US espionage activities around the world, assessments of Russian and Ukrainian armed forces, China’s aerial warfare capabilities, and Beijing’s access to and around Taiwan, the democratic island it claims. It covered the issues that affected it.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
VOA: You recently accompanied the Vice President on a multilateral African tour. What were the measurable and demonstrable outcomes of the US visit to Africa and other high-profile visits in 2018?
Senator Chris Coons: A key goal here is to demonstrate that the United States is a trusted and valuable partner in participating, supporting public health, economic development, the transformation of the energy sector, and the transformation of agriculture to fight food. That’s it. anxiety. The Vice President of Ghana, the country I traveled with her, focused on youth opportunities, entrepreneurship, creative enterprises, and the implementation of the Global Fragility Act.
She announced a $100 million investment to help stabilize countries in which I have been actively involved, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo.
VOA: Let’s talk about Sudan.Yesterday, VOA [former U.S. and U.N. diplomat] Jeffrey Feltman told us the US was “played” by both Sudanese combat leaders.Is it time for Congress to cut ties with Sudan’s ruling military leadership? Are you planning to write something about
coons: This is what has been feared for weeks as relations between them become increasingly strained. are about to plunge into all-out civil war. My concern is that this could soon become a proxy war. I am here this week discussing leadership and course options.
VOA: Kenyan media reports that you played a major role in bringing about a deal between President William Ruto and his nemesis and opposition leader Laila Odinga.
Could you take us to your room? What have you done, what have you promised? And is the United States seen as a competent negotiator, facilitator, and guarantor in these kinds of disputes?
coons: I have had the opportunity to have positive and productive personal conversations with Vice Presidents, former Prime Ministers and former Presidents. [electoral commission]This is important for future free and fair elections in Kenya.
Frankly, my central message to everyone I met was: We can simply allow you to listen to each other and recognize that democracies are fragile and difficult and need space for legitimate dissent to be heard and economic grievances and concerns about elections to be heard. I’m just trying to help. A duly elected president of a country so that it can move the country forward.
audio: What are your intentions and hopes for the US President’s emergency plan for AIDS relief? [PEPFAR] African Growth Opportunity Act [AGOA]Will there be bipartisan support to continue both of them?
coons: A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit Botswana, South Africa and Zambia to see their PEPFAR programs and see the history and future of PEPFAR. I believe re-authentication is possible and should be re-authenticated. And would get a strong bipartisan vote to do so.
Expensive, but very effective and long lasting. I think it shows the world, especially the countries that benefit primarily in Africa, that the United States has been a great partner for many years and is capable of sticking to the really important battles that help the whole world. In particular, it helps the poorest women, children, and people with weak immune systems to live a privileged and fulfilling life.
I was heavily involved in the last AGOA reauthorization. We have seen the positive impact it has on the ground in several countries, mainly South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia. More countries can benefit from his AGOA and use it to export apparel to the United States or manufacture or manufacture products.
audio: This intelligence leak led to an overhaul of our security protocols. You enter this top secret briefing. What concerns or questions do you have?
coons: This is a serious breach of American intelligence. And it is clear that there is accountability at the unit level, not just for this individual who I would expect to spend a significant amount of time in prison for these actions. When young men in the military can reveal such important secrets for such indifferent and simple reasons, there is a greater sense of control over the flow of intelligence products both within and within the military. You should raise an issue. across our government.
I look forward to hearing what else you find out about how this happened, what the reaction has been, and how to better manage intelligence information.
VOA: And as the US continues to fund expensive and sensitive efforts like the war in Ukraine, are you concerned about the information tightening and its implications?
coons: I am optimistic and the oversight that is taking place both remotely and on-site in Ukraine gives us confidence that the money we transfer is being spent properly.
When I visited Kiev with the senators last fall [Rob] Portman, we’ve spoken with ambassadors, some of our accountability teams, and outside contractors who are providing insight into how our funds are being spent. , I am optimistic that we will achieve the goal of showing the American public that the money we are investing in Ukraine’s defense is well spent.
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