100 Days Pass Obama Administration

100 Days Pass Obama Administration

Thursday, April 30, 2009 (Washington, DC) – As President Obama’s first 100 days in office pass, Africa Action recognizes significant changes in the tone of U.S. foreign policy, including the willingness to engage a wide variety of perspectives and a desire for a more comprehensive approach. This should pave the way for a more positive U.S. policy. However, recognizing the serious economic crisis in the U.S., it would be damaging to U.S. foreign policy to deprioritize diplomacy and democracy in Africa.

Over the coming months, Africa Action and partners will be mobilizing public pressure to hold the President Obama accountable to his campaign promises. Our three campaigns include: End HIV/AIDS, Cancel Africa’s Debt and Peace & Justice for Darfur and All Sudan.

Africa Action welcomes the latest nomination of Dr. Eric Goosby as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The U.S. Senate should swiftly confirm Goosby so that there is a strong advocate for treatment programs, such as those included in the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.

Further, President Obama must fulfill his commitment and ensure that the U.S. provides its fair share to the Global Fund. It is imperative that Dr. Goosby shore up support and strengthen its relationship with the Global Fund, which continues to play an imperative role in delivering AIDS resources to rural areas often ignored by PEPFAR.

Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action said today, “It is essential that PEPFAR receive funding as promise. In several countries in Africa, PEPFAR is unable to enroll new patients due to a shortage in resources. Moreover, due to a funding gap, South Africa's HIV proposal to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for Round 8 did not include provision of antiretrovirals at all.”

Africa Action calls on the United States to contribute its proportionate share to the Global Fund by appropriating $2.7 billion in 2010, and an additional $1 billion in 2009. While the U.S. Government’s approval of an additional $60 million is a welcome development, it falls far short of the $700 million for 2009 that experts say the U.S. needs to contribute to make its proportionate share based on the size of the U.S. economy.

“We look forward to engaging Dr. Eric Goosby, as well as Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and Scott Gration, U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan,” said LeMelle. He added, “In the days and weeks to come, each person will face challenges that will need to be quickly addressed.”

In Sudan, for example, approximately 1.1 million people are now dependent on food aid. A joint U.N.-Sudanese assessment team said that more than one million people in Darfur would not get their food rations beginning May 1st, as a result of international humanitarian organizations being expelled from the country. Consequently, there will be a dramatic increase in disease and insecurity around the region.

There must also be more space for discussion around one of the most adverse policy proposals President Obama has advocated for- that is that the International Monetary Fund be the instrument that mitigates the affect of the global economic crisis on Africa. Michael Stulman, Associate Director for Policy and Communications explains that, “This is the same institution that had initially put Africa in the economic crisis it is in today. Without institutional reform, the new IMF loans will create a new debt crisis that will do much more harm than good.”

Africa Action advocates that there be “no blank check” for the IMF. Rather than hastily appropriating funds to the IMF through a supplemental appropriations bill in the coming days, U.S. congress must allow for an open debate on the role and policies of the IMF, and provide for an opportunity for legislative amendments.

“It is now more important than ever that President Obama establish a clear channel of communication between the White House, Secretary of State Clinton and the entire Africa team,” said Stulman. “This will improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of foreign policy towards Africa.”

ENDS

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