Africa Action Releases Africa Policy Outlook 2010

One
year after President Obama was sworn in to office, and less than a week
before his State of the Union address, Africa Action today released its
Africa Policy Outlook 2010, also published by Foreign Policy in Focus.

The Outlook is an annual publication forecasts the key issues and
developments in Africa policy, such as climate change, the global
economic crisis, HIV/AIDS, foreign aid and other country topics, and it
analyzes trends in U.S. relations with Africa under the current
administration. It is now available at https://www.africaaction.org/

The report also calls into question U.S. commitment to long-term
development goals. In the global economic crisis, with less money
being made available for investment in health, infrastructure,
education, and the fight to combat climate change, the U.S. is missing
a historic opportunity to bring meaningful change for poor people in
Africa.

Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action, said, "In
2009, we formally bade farewell to President Bush, and shared President
Obama's vision of hope and change for U.S. foreign policy. His bold
commitments to human rights during his campaign commanded the attention
of those people all around the word."

However, as Africa moves into a new decade, the Africa Policy Outlook
for 2010 identifies several challenges facing the Obama Administration.

"The U.S. has tripled the budget for U.S. military programs in
Africa and revitalized the IMF and its failed lending policies, while
at the same time, flat-lined funding for life-saving HIV/AIDS programs.
Africa deserves a more sophisticated approach than what has been
afforded to its people," adds Gerald LeMelle.

"The Obama administration has so far chosen to emphasize the
importance of the U.S.'s military role on the continent. However, the
question now is whether, by treating dissent with military force rather
than traditional law enforcement techniques, the U.S. is undermining
democracy and at the same time encouraging extremism and the growth of
anti-Americanism."

Michael Stulman, Associate Director for Policy and Communications said, "The
U.S. should leverage its enormous economic and political power to lead
the international community in a global flight to eliminate poverty,
disease, and conflict. U.S. policy towards Africa must support the full
spectrum of human rights across the continent, and be inseparably
integrated as a pillar of U.S. foreign policy. Human rights are the
foundation for political and social stability and economic progress."

The full text of the Africa Policy Outlook 2010 is available on the Africa Action website, https://www.africaaction.org.