Obama’s interest in Africa is much more than passing’

US President Barack Obama was in the Middle East this week, and made a much anticipated speech at the University of Cairo in Egypt, to signal a “new beginning” in relations with the Arab and Muslim world, which had been strained by his successor George Bush’s “war on terror”.
Mr Dan Sreebny, Senior Advisor for Regional Media at United States Embassy, London, answered Saturday Nation’s e-mail questions about the Obama administration’s diplomatic goals in the Middle East and Africa.

Q: The security of the Middle East, and the region’s ability to prosper through commerce, cannot be separated from that of the northern Africa, the Horn of Africa and, of recent, the safety of the shipping lanes off the Gulf of Aden. However, this region is now threatened by Somali piracy and the conflict in Somalia. What new initiatives is the US planning to deal with the threats posed by dysfunction in Somalia?

A: Somalia finds itself embroiled in a cycle of violence and instability despite promising efforts in recent years by the international community and Somali leadership to create an inclusive and stable government. The blight of piracy off the coast of Somalia is without question a symptom of the instability and insecurity within Somalia. The resolution of these problems calls for a comprehensive solution that provides stability and promotes reconciliation, economic opportunity and hope for the Somali people.

The Obama Administration is working to address these challenges. The National Security Council (NSC) has brought together the Department of State, the Department of Defence, USAID, the intelligence community, and a variety of other agencies to work to develop a strategy that is both comprehensive and sustainable.

Such a strategy must be built around our work with international partners, including the United Nations, African Union, the European Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), International Contact Group on Somalia (ICG), and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, among others, to achieve our foreign policy goals in Somalia of political and economic stability, eliminating the terrorist threat, addressing the dire humanitarian situation, and eliminating the threat of piracy.

We are also working with other states in the region, as Somalia’s challenges are intertwined with other conflicts and issues throughout the Horn of Africa. 

The United States continues to assist the TFG in the development of a Somali security sector, which is crucial for the success of governance efforts in Somalia.

We have already committed to providing $10 million to support the creation of a National Security Force as part of this effort, and we are also working to strengthen the TFG’s capacity so the United States and others in the international community can provide additional assistance.

We are also the largest supporter of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which facilitates the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, protects key installations in Mogadishu, and provides political space for a Somali-led reconciliation process.

Since the deployment of AMISOM in 2007, the United States has provided $135 million for logistical and equipment support and pre-deployment training for the Burundian and Ugandan forces on the ground. We plan to continue this level of support in the future.

Furthermore, the United States remains the largest bilateral donor of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, having provided more than $137 million in emergency food and non-food assistance to date in Fiscal Year 2010.

Q: When President Obama passed his 100 days in office, in Africa the prevalent view was that he had “done nothing” for the continent, a disappointment to some considering that his father came from Kenya. Will the political dividend that America and President Obama would reap from, for example, a breakthrough on the Palestinian question or getting agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme so big, that he might never take more than a passing interest in Africa?

A: President Obama has been in office less than five months, and has been confronted with a range of domestic and international issues during that period.  His interest in Africa – both its challenges and its achievements – are much more than “passing,” and he looks forward to renewing his ties with the continent during his visit to Ghana next month.

President Obama has made overtures to various countries with which it has had a long difficult relationship — Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and Syria. In April, he was in London for the G20 Summit on the global economic crisis, then went to Latin America.

A few weeks after coming to office, he made his now famous broadcast to the Arab world, and how he is on a visit to the Middle East. Not to mention, the appointment of special envoys to Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Q: Which of these areas or issues is the single top most important issue to President Obama? Why? What is the Obama World view?

A: There are many important issues and areas in our world today, and President Obama and his Administration are engaged in dealing with them, in cooperation with other nations. 

As President Obama recently said, “There are a couple of principles that I’ve tried to apply across the board: Number one, that the United States remains the most powerful, wealthiest nation on Earth, but we’re only one nation, and that the problems that we confront, whether it’s drug cartels, climate change, terrorism, you name it, can’t be solved just by one country.

And I think if you start with that approach, then you are inclined to listen and not just talk…Number two, I feel very strongly that when we are at our best, the United States represents a set of universal values and ideals — the idea of democratic practices, the idea of freedom of speech and religion, the idea of a civil society where people are free to pursue their dreams and not be imposed upon constantly by their government.

So we’ve got a set of ideas that I think have broad applicability. But what I also believe is that other countries have different cultures, different perspectives, and are coming out of different histories, and that we do our best to promote our ideals and our values by our example.”

Q: The Obama administration, at least in tone and public posture, seems to have gone further than any recent US government in pushing Israelis toward accepting a two-station proposition as a solution to the Palestinian question. How optimistic is the US that there will be greater movement this time? And what is it willing to give to Israel and the Palestinians to get progress?

A: President Obama believes that the only resolution to this conflict is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security. 

He does not expect it to be easy, but he is personally committed to this goal and has exercised direct leadership on this issue from his first days in office. 

As the President said in his speech today: “That is in Israel’s interest, Palestine’s interest, America’s interest, and the world’s interest.  And that is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience and dedication that the task requires.” 

Q: What is the US expecting to achieve with its “olive branch” to Tehran?

A: President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have clearly stated that the US intends to pursue direct and honest diplomacy with Iran on all issues to overcome our real differences and explore areas of shared interest.

In his Nowruz message, the President stated: “My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community. This process will not be advanced by threats.  We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect.” 

We want Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations – but with rights come responsibilities. As the President said in his speech today: “Rather than remain trapped in the past, I’ve made it clear to Iran’s leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question now is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.”

Q: In Cairo, Obama repeated his earlier statements that he was looking for a “new beginning” in US relations with the Muslim world. However, there is a view that perhaps it is too late. That by siding with authoritarian regimes in the region for strategic and economic reasons, the pro-democracy constituencies in the region have moved so far away from the US.

A: President Obama recognises that change cannot happen overnight, and that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust. 

However, as he said today: “I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly to each other the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground.” 

In the same speech, the President directly discussed the important topic of democracy, stating his commitment  “to governments that reflect the will of the people” and his “unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things:  the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose.”    

Q: Some kind of siege mentality set upon the USA following the 9/11, and in the battery of anti-terrorist measures, it has become doubly difficult for people from Muslim countries to get visas to the US, and in general even getting to apply for an American visa has become an uphill task. Is this a difficulty that the US realises non-Americans are facing, and is there a review in the horizon?

A: The United States Government is committed to welcoming visitors from all parts of the world, while ensuring that they can travel to our country in security and safety. 

Our embassies and consulates regularly review their procedures to ensure that they carry out their legal responsibilities in ways that securely serve members of the public. 

The Department of Homeland Security has established a Travel Redress Inquiry Program for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties the have experienced.