A Victory and Two Defeats in Washington for Africa

The Week of June 8th was an Interesting one for those who follow US Policy towards Africa. Especially when two countrires which have a past of being thorny issues for Previous Administrations are at the focal point of these Discussions.

First lets discuss the Situation in Zimbabwe. Since the Controversial Elections in 2000 this country has gone from being the Bread Basket for Southern Africa to being a Basket Case. Attacks on Civil Society, Independent Media Outlets and the Judiciary as well as Poor Economic Conditions led the US and several other countries to levy Targeted Economic Sanctions against President Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front).

The Elections in March 2008 which President Mugabe lost according to most pundits was both a defining moment and the last straw. After a Controversial Runoff in July 2008 a GNU (Government of National Unity) was negotiated. Currently the leader of the Main Opposition Party Morgan Tsviangari is the Prime Minister and It is He who delivered the victory in Washington this week.

President Obama has broke with the Policy of the Bush Administration and its policy of Isolating Zimbabwe by holding talks with the PM. This along with the fact that the US is going to allocate $73 Million in Aid to Zimbabwe with certain caveats is a Huge Victory for the tarnished PR that Zimbabwe has. However the US will STILL Maintain its Program of Sanctions currently in Place. Also in what can be construed as a Defeat for Zimbabwe and its Need for Capital the head of the CCA (Corporate Council for Africa) stated that there will be No US Investments until the Rule of Law is Restored and Human Rights are Protected.

The Second Defeat which has the potential for having an Direct Impact on US Policy had to be the Defeat of the Royce Amendment to the 2010-11 Foreign Relations Bill. This Amendment if successful would have declared that the Support that Eritrea is believed to be Giving to the Insurgents Fighting in Somalia a Threat to the National Security of the United States. It would also declare Eritrea to be a State Sponsor of Terrorism.

The Question is who is handed the Defeat by the Failure of the Royce Amendment. If the Reports that the Ethiopian Government spent Thousands of Dollars lobbying to have Eritrea labelled as a State Sponsor of Terrorism then the Defeat can be laid upon Addis Ababa. To take it even further this can be seen as a Defeat for the Transitional Government in Somalia as well.

The Score is split for Zimbabwe. Having the US Interact with the Government and Providing any form of Aid will be a Victory as long as the Security Situation is resolved. But the Unwillingness of US Business to Invest in Zimbabwe is a defeat plain and simple. However the Failure of the Royce Admendment to deal with Eritrea has the Potential to Open the Doors for another Disaster in the Horn of Africa Policy for the United States.

The Author Publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet and Comments on US Policy towards Africa. Confused Eagle can be found at morganrights.tripod.com

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