The Obama Administration's Africa Policy: The First Four Years, 2009–2013

For the first time since retiring, the veteran career diplomat who coordinated U.S. policy toward Africa during President Obama's first term provides a comprehensive overview of the administration's objectives and accomplishments. While maintaining successful programs of previous administrations, President Obama is focusing on the modernization of agriculture and advancing the continent's electrification, both indispensable to sustainable development. Security cooperation has also grown in response to the growing threat of Islamic violence. Overarching all initiatives is President Obama's emphasis on democracy and good governance. KEYWORDS: agricultureconflict managementdemocracyeconomic developmentFeed the Futuregood governanceIslamic violence“Power Africa”regional securitysub-Saharan Africatrade and investment Notes Barack Obama, “Speech to the Ghanaian Parliament” (Accra, Ghana, July 11, 2009). Ibid. Lauren Ploch, “Nigeria,” Congressional Research Service, June 4, 2010. Andrew Quinn, “U.S., France Press Guinea Junta on Future,” Reuters, January 6, 2010. “AP Reports Obama to Visit Africa Again in 2011, Calls President Gbagbo Twice,” The (Uganda) Independent, January 3, 2011. Richard Joseph, “The American Presidency and Democracy Promotion in Africa” (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution, August 23, 2012). “U.S. Strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa,” June 2012, Office of the White House Press Secretary, The White House, www.whitehouse.gov/docs/africa_strategy. “Power Africa,” fact sheet, www.whitehouse.gove/the_press_office/2013/06. Johnnie Carson, “U.S. Efforts to Counter the Lord's Resistance Army” (speech, United States Institute of Peace, December 7, 2011), www.state.gov. Feed the Future, op. cit. “The U.S. Global Health Initiative,” background and fact sheet, www.ghi.gov. “Power Africa,” fact sheet, www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/2013/06. “The President's Young African Leaders Initiative,” USAID, www.usaid.gov/yali. Obama, “Speech to the Ghanaian Parliament.” Additional informationNotes on contributorsJohnnie Carson Johnnie Carson was Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, 2009–2013. During his career in the United States Foreign Service, he served as Ambassador to the African republics of Uganda and Kenya. He was also Director for Africa on the National Intelligence Council.