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• Côte d'Ivoire's Post-Election Crisis [January 28, 2011]

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  "Côte d'Ivoire has entered a renewed period of extreme political instability, accompanied by significant political violence, following a contested presidential election designed to cap an often forestalled peace process. The election was held under the terms of the 2007 Ouagadougou Political Agreement, the most recent in a series of partially implemented peace accords aimed at reunifying Côte d'Ivoire, which has remained largely divided between a government-controlled southern region and a rebel-controlled zone in the north since the outbreak of a civil war in 2002. This instability directly threatens long-standing U.S. and international efforts to support a transition to peace, political stability, and democratic governance in Côte d'Ivoire, among other U.S. objectives. Indirectly at stake are broader, long-term U.S. efforts to ensure regional stability, peace, democratic and accountable state capacity-building and economic growth in West Africa, along with billions of dollars of U.S. foreign aid to achieve these ends. […] On November 28, 2010, a presidential election runoff vote was held between the incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo, and former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara, the two candidates who had won the most votes in a first-round October 31, 2010 poll. Both candidates claim to have won the runoff vote and separately inaugurated themselves as president and formed rival governments. […] The electoral standoff has caused a sharp rise in political tension and violence, resulting in many deaths and human rights abuses, and provoked attacks on U.N. peacekeepers. The international community has broadly rejected Gbagbo's electoral victory claim and endorsed Ouattara as the legally elected president, and is using diplomatic and financial efforts, personal sanctions, and a military intervention threat to pressure Gbagbo to step aside."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2011-01-28
• International Efforts to Control the Spread of the Avian Influenza (H5N1) Virus: Affected Countries' Responses [Updated August 24, 2006]

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  "A strain of the avian influenza virus known as H5N1 threatens to develop into a human pandemic. First appearing in birds and humans in Hong Kong in 1997, the virus re-surfaced in late 2003 and since has spread throughout Asia, causing over 100 reported human deaths from Vietnam to Turkey and appearing in birds in Africa and Europe. The strain is considered particularly dangerous because of its human fatality rate to date of over 50% and because of the risk that the virus may develop the ability to pass efficiently between humans. This report focuses on the efforts of overseas governments to combat the spread of avian influenza, specifically on the response of those countries which have confirmed human deaths from the virus. As of August 2006, the vast majority of fatal and total cases have been in East Asia, including Vietnam (42/93), Indonesia (44/57), Thailand (16/24), China (14/21), and Cambodia (6/6). In 2006, human cases and deaths from H5N1 were newly reported in Azerbaijan (5/8), Turkey (4/12), Egypt (6/14), Iraq (2/2), and Djibouti (0/1). Appearance of the disease in animals has spurred prevention efforts on three continents, including the slaughter or vaccination of millions of domestic poultry."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Dumbaugh, Kerry; Chanlett-Avery, Emma

  2006-08-24
• Liberia's Post-War Recovery: Key Issues and Developments [Updated April 26, 2007]

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  "This report, which is updated as events warrant, covers recent events in Liberia, a small, poor West African country. It held elections in October 2005, with a presidential runoff in November, a key step in a peace-building process following its second civil war in a decade. That war began in 1999, escalated in 2000, and ended in 2003. It pitted the forces of Charles Taylor, elected president in 1997 after Liberia's first civil war (1989-1997), against two armed anti-Taylor rebel groups. It also destabilized neighboring states, which accepted Liberian refugees and, in some cases, hosted anti-Taylor forces and became targets of the Taylor regime."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2007-04-26
• Liberia's Post-War Recovery: Key Issues and Developments [Updated May 5, 2006]

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  "This report, which will be updated as events warrant, covers recent events in Liberia, a small, poor West African country. It held elections in October 2005, with a presidential run-off in November, a key step in a peace-building process following its second civil war in a decade. That war began in 1999, escalated in 2000, and ended in 2003. It pitted the forces of Charles Taylor, elected president in 1997 after Liberia's first civil war (1989-1997), against two armed anti-Taylor rebel groups. It also destabilized neighboring states, which accepted Liberian refugees and, in some cases, hosted anti-Taylor forces and became targets of the Taylor regime."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2006-05-05
• Liberia's Post-War Recovery: Key Issues and Developments [Updated August 30, 2007]

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  "This report, which is updated as events warrant, covers recent events in Liberia, a small, poor West African country. It held elections in October 2005, with a presidential runoff in November, a key step in a peace-building process following its second civil war in a decade. That war began in 1999, escalated in 2000, and ended in 2003. It pitted the forces of Charles Taylor, elected president in 1997 after Liberia's first civil war (1989-1997), against two armed anti-Taylor rebel groups. It also destabilized neighboring states, which accepted Liberian refugees and, in some cases, hosted anti-Taylor forces and became targets of the Taylor regime. In addition to providing substantial support for Liberia's post-war peace and reconstruction processes, the 109th and preceding Congresses maintained continuing interest in the status of Charles Taylor. The 109th Congress passed laws and resolutions urging that SCSL indictees, like Taylor, face trial at the court. The 109th Congress and its predecessors provided $35 million in assistance to the SCSL through FY2006. Other legislation proposed in the 109th Congress centered on immigration, debt, and tax haven issues, and the commendation of Liberia for successfully holding elections. The 110th Congress has continued to provide support to the SCSL and for Liberia's efforts to consolidate its post-war governance and economic rebuilding processes."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2007-08-30
• Liberia's Post-War Recovery: Key Issues and Developments [Updated January 30, 2008]

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  "This report, which is updated as events warrant, covers recent events in Liberia, a small, poor West African country. It held elections in October 2005, with a presidential runoff in November, a key step in a peace-building process following its second civil war in a decade. That war began in 1999, escalated in 2000, and ended in 2003. It pitted the forces of Charles Taylor, elected president in 1997 after Liberia's first civil war (1989-1997), against two armed anti-Taylor rebel groups. It also destabilized neighboring states, which accepted Liberian refugees and, in some cases, hosted anti-Taylor forces and became targets of the Taylor regime. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, an economist, won the presidential runoff vote, with 59.4% of votes cast and took office in mid-January 2006, becoming the first female president of an African country. […]. Most observers viewed the vote as orderly, free and fair. It fulfilled a key goal of an August 2003 peace accord that had ended the second civil war and led to an ongoing, U.S.-aided post-war transition process, which is bolstered by the multifaceted peacekeeping and development-focused U.N. Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Liberia's security situation is stable but subject to periodic volatility. Progress in governance under the interim government that preceded that of President Sirleaf was mixed; widespread corruption within it was widely reported. Liberia's economy and state structures remain devastated by war. Humanitarian conditions are improving. Liberia receives extensive U.S. post-war reconstruction and security sector reform assistance."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2008-01-30
• AIDS in Africa [Updated November 24, 2006]

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  "U.S. concern over AIDS in Africa grew in the 1980s, as the epidemic's severity became apparent. Legislation enacted in the 106th and the 107th Congresses increased funding for worldwide AIDS programs. P.L. 108-25, signed into law on May 27, 2003, authorized $15 billion over five years for international AIDS programs. President Bush announced his Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in his 2003 State of the Union message. Twelve of 15 PEPFAR 'focus countries' are in Africa. Under the FY2007 budget request, the 12 countries would receive a 61% boost in AIDS-related aid, to $1.99 billion, under the State Department's Global HIV/AIDS Initiative account. Nonetheless, activists and others urge that more be done, given the scale of the African pandemic. This CRS report replaces CRS Issue Brief IB10050, AIDS in Africa, by Nicolas Cook. It will be updated as circumstances warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2006-11-24
• Liberia's Post-War Recovery: Key Issues and Developments [Updated December 18, 2006]

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  "This report, which is updated as events warrant, covers recent events in Liberia, a small, poor West African country. It held elections in October 2005, with a presidential runoff in November, a key step in a peace-building process following its second civil war in a decade. That war began in 1999, escalated in 2000, and ended in 2003. It pitted the forces of Charles Taylor, elected president in 1997 after Liberia's first civil war (1989-1997), against two armed anti-Taylor rebel groups. It also destabilized neighboring states, which accepted Liberian refugees and, in some cases, hosted anti-Taylor forces and became targets of the Taylor regime."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2006-12-18
• AIDS in Africa [February 2, 2008]

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  "Sub-Saharan Africa ('Africa' hereafter) has been more severely affected by AIDS than any other world region. In 2007, the United Nations reports, there were about 22.5 million HIV-positive persons in Africa, which has nearly 12% of the world's population but about 68% of the global total of infected persons. The adult rate of infection in Africa in late 2005 was 6.1%, compared with 1% worldwide, but had dropped to 5% by 2007, compared to .8% worldwide. Nine southern African countries have infection rates above 10%. In 2007, 35% of all people living globally with HIV lived in Southern Africa, where 32% of all global new HIV infections and AIDS deaths occurred. About 90% of infected children globally live in Africa, where about 61% of infected adults are women. As many as 30 million Africans may have died of AIDS since 1982, including 1.6 million who died in 2007, accounting for about 76% of global AIDS deaths in 2007. AIDS has surpassed malaria as the leading cause of death in Africa. It kills many more Africans than does war. […] Congress is likely to re-authorize PEPFAR [President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief], which expires after FY2008, or create a successor program. Other bills in the 110th Congress that focus on AIDS in Africa include S. 805 (Durbin), H.R. 3812 (Lee), H.R. 1713 (Lee), S. 2415 (Clinton), and S.Con.Res.31. Global AIDS appropriations are discussed in other CRS reports cited within this report, which will be updated periodically."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2008-02-02
• Madagascar's Political Crisis [June 18, 2012]

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  "Madagascar, an Indian Ocean island country, ranks among the world's poorest countries, is the world's fourth largest island and is extremely biologically diverse, with thousands of unique species of flora and fauna. It has experienced political instability since early 2009, initiated by tensions between the country's last elected president, Marc Ravalomanana, and an opposition movement led by Andry Rajoelina, then the mayor of the capital city, Antananarivo. Mass protests in early 2009 and eventual military support for the ouster of President Ravalomanana culminated in his forced resignation from office. Rajoelina then seized power and, with other leaders, formed an interim self-declared transitional government, the High Transitional Authority (HAT, after its French acronym). Ravalomanana now lives in exile in South Africa. [...] Madagascar faces a host of environmental pressures, however, and illegal logging and endangered wildlife exports have reportedly substantially increased under the HAT. Congress has expressed concern with threats to Madagascar's unique ecosystem, as well as with the country's ongoing political and development challenges. The House of Representatives passed legislation in 2009, H.Res. 839, condemning the 2009 coup and the illegal extraction of Madagascar's natural resources."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Cook, Nicolas

  2012-06-18
• Liberia's Post-War Recovery: Key Issues and Developments [May 29, 2007]

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  "This report, which is updated as events warrant, covers recent events in Liberia, a small, poor West African country. It held elections in October 2005, with a presidential runoff in November, a key step in a peace-building process following its second civil war in a decade. That war began in 1999, escalated in 2000, and ended in 2003. It pitted the forces of Charles Taylor, elected president in 1997 after Liberia's first civil war (1989-1997), against two armed anti-Taylor rebel groups. It also destabilized neighboring states, which accepted Liberian refugees and, in some cases, hosted anti-Taylor forces and became targets of the Taylor regime. […] Other legislation proposed in the 109th Congress centered on immigration, debt, and tax haven issues, and the commendation of Liberia for successfully holding elections. The 110th Congress has continued to provide support to the SCSL and for Liberia's efforts to consolidate its post-war governance and economic rebuilding processes. FY2007 funds for such purposes were contained in temporary continuing resolutions passed by the 109th Congress that provided FY2007 foreign operations appropriations through February 15, 2007. The 110th Congress passed a final continuing resolution, P.L. 110-5, which appropriated foreign operations for the balance of FY2007. Specific final FY2007 allocations for Liberia and the SCSL will be set through a process of consultation between the Administration and Congress, as provided for under Section 113 of P.L. 110-5 and other provisions of law. Other Liberia-related legislation introduced in the 110th Congress has included H.R. 1591 (Obey); H.R. 2206 (Obey); S. 965 (Byrd); S. 656 (Reed); H.R. 1941 (Kennedy); S. 396 (Dorgan); and S. 554 (Dorgan)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2007-05-29
• AIDS in Africa [July 27, 2006]

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  "Sub-Saharan Africa ('Africa' hereafter) has been more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. In 2005, the United Nations reports, there were in the range of 24.5 million HIV-positive persons in the region, which has just over 11% of the world's population but about 64% of the worldwide total of infected persons. The overall adult rate of infection in Africa in late 2005 was 6.1%, compared with 1% worldwide. Nine southern African countries have infection rates above 10%. Ten African countries with the largest infected populations account for over 50% of infected adults worldwide. By the end of 2005, an estimated 27.1 million or more Africans had died of AIDS since 1982, including 2 million in 2005. AIDS has surpassed malaria as the leading cause of death in Africa, and it kills many times more Africans than war. In Africa, about 59% of infected adults are women. Experts attribute the severity of Africa's AIDS epidemic to the region's poverty, women's relative lack of empowerment, high rates of male worker migration, and other factors. Health systems are ill-equipped for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. AIDS' severe social and economic consequences are depriving Africa of skilled workers and teachers, and reducing life expectancy by decades in some countries. There are an estimated 12.3 million African AIDS orphans. They face increased risk of malnutrition and reduced prospects for education. AIDS is blamed for declines in farm production in some countries and is seen as a major contributor to hunger and famine."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2006-07-27
• AIDS in Africa [March 9, 2006]

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  "Sub-Saharan Africa ('Africa' hereafter) has been more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. In 2005, the United Nations reports, there were about 25.8 million HIV-positive adults and children in the region, which has about 11.3% of the world's population but over 64% of the worldwide total of infected persons. The overall adult rate of infection in Africa is 7.2%, compared with 1.1% worldwide. Nine southern Africa countries have infection rates above 10%. Ten African countries with the largest infected populations account for over 50% of infected adults worldwide. By the end of 2005, an estimated 27.5 million Africans had died of AIDS since 1982, including 2.4 million in 2005. AIDS has surpassed malaria as the leading cause of death in Africa, and it kills many times more Africans than war. In Africa, 57% of those infected are women. […] U.S. concern over AIDS in Africa grew in the 1980s, as the epidemic's severity became apparent. Legislation enacted in the 106th and the 107th Congresses increased funding for worldwide AIDS programs. P.L. 108-25, signed into law on May 27, 2003, authorized $15 billion over five years for international AIDS programs. President Bush announced his Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in his 2003 State of the Union message. Twelve of 15 PEPFAR 'focus countries' are in Africa. Under the FY2007 budget request, the 12 countries would receive a 61% boost in AIDS-related aid, to $1.99 billion, under the State Department's Global HIV/AIDS Initiative account. Nonetheless, activists and others urge that more be done, given the scale of the African pandemic."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2006-03-09
• Malawi: Recent Developments and U.S. Relations [March 21, 2013]

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  "President Barack Obama's Administration and a number of Members of Congress welcomed Malawian President Joyce Banda's accession to power, largely because she reversed a number of contentious decisions taken by her predecessor, Bingu wa Mutharika. Banda succeeded him after he died in early April 2012 while serving a contentious second term. Banda's status as Africa's second female president, an internationally recognized women's rights advocate, and a leader with socioeconomic development expertise has also attracted U.S. and other international support for her. There are some indications that Banda may pursue a foreign policy aligned with selected U.S. regional policy goals, and in March 2013, President Obama invited Banda to the White House to discuss democratic strengthening, trade, and investment. In August 2012, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Malawi to discuss economic and governance reforms and to highlight U.S.-funded development projects. In September 2012 Banda addressed a gathering of Members of Congress at a forum on U.S.-Malawian and broader U.S.-African relations. Malawi, a former British colony, is a small, poor southeastern African country that underwent a democratic transition from one-party rule in the early 1990s and has long relied on donor aid. Under Mutharika, however, Malawi's ties with donors had been damaged over concerns related to economic management, undemocratic governance trends, and Mutharika's acrimonious stance toward donors. Upon taking office, Banda--who had served as Mutharika's vice president and therefore succeeded him upon his death--initiated a series of economic and governance reform efforts, seeking to reverse changes made under Mutharika."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2013-03-21
• Ghana: Background and U.S. Relations [July 8, 2009]

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  "This report provides information on current developments in Ghana and Ghana's relations with the United States, which are close. It describes the purpose of President Barack Obama's forthcoming trip to Ghana, which will focus on issues of good governance and socio-economic and political development, and characterizes the current state of play in bilateral relations. It also summarizes the policy agenda of Ghana's president, John Atta Mills, who won office by a narrow margin in elections in late 2008. The dynamics of that election are described in the report, as are recent policy-centered developments, economic challenges and performance, and socio-economic prospects. Ghana's international relations and bilateral development cooperation with the United States are also covered in the report."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2009-07-08
• Ghana: Background and U.S. Relations [February 14, 2008]

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  "This short report, which will be updated as events warrant, provides background information on current developments in Ghana and U.S. bilateral relations with Ghana."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2008-02-14
• Illegal Drug Trade in Africa: Trends and U.S. Policy [February 26, 2010]

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  "Africa has historically held a peripheral role in the transnational illicit drug trade, but in recent years has increasingly become a locus for drug trafficking, particularly of cocaine. Recent estimates suggest that in recent years, apart from late 2008 and 2009, between 46 and 300 metric tons of South American cocaine may have transited West Africa en route to Europe. Recent cocaine seizure levels are sharply higher than those in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which in all of Africa rarely exceeded 1 metric ton a year. Africa's emergence as a trafficking nexus appears to have resulted from structural shifts in international drug trafficking patterns, including heighted European demand for cocaine, international counternarcotics pressure driving drug traffickers away from traditional trafficking routes, and the operational allure for traffickers of low levels of law enforcement capacity and high rates of corruption in many African countries. The growth of drug trafficking through Africa poses new challenges to international counternarcotics efforts, as well as a variety of emergent threats to the United States. Novel strategies and adaptations of existing efforts may be required to track emergent drug flow patterns, dismantle major criminal syndicates involved in such trafficking, and prevent future hotspots from emerging. While most of the cocaine transiting Africa is destined for Europe, and little of it enters the United States, other illicit substances trafficked through the region, notably heroin and illegally traded chemical precursors used to produce illicit drugs, do enter the United States. The growing drug trade in Africa also poses other threats to U.S. interests. These include the reported involvement of Latin American criminal groups, including elements of at least one U.S.-designated terrorist organization, which are targets of U.S. counternarcotics or military operations. Other challenges include threats to U.S. policy interests and assistance programs in Africa, such as efforts to advance good governance, political stability, rule of law, and human rights, and programs to build African law enforcement and counternarcotics capacities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Wyler, Liana Sun; Cook, Nicolas

  2010-02-26
• U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Frequently Asked Questions and Background [July 31, 2014]

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  "This report provides information about the early August 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, and policy issues likely to be addressed by participants in the summit and other events being held in conjunction with it. In providing background on key U.S.-Africa policy issues, the report addresses: [1] Africa's development and economic challenges; [2] U.S.-Africa trade, investment, and economic cooperation; [3] U.S. aid to Africa; [4] Governance, democracy, and human rights issues; and [5] Peace and security issues, including selected U.S. responses. […] The summit focuses on the continent as a whole, both sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa, although the Administration's 2012 Africa Strategy focuses on sub-Saharan Africa alone. Likewise, sub-Saharan Africa is the main focus of this report, although some coverage of North Africa is included. […] The report discusses some key social and economic issues in the region. This includes key development challenges--a need for health, education, and other social indicator improvements, especially catering to Africa's youthful population, and a need to address climatic and environmental shocks, among other ends. It also briefly addresses the recent positive shift in Africa's economic environment, including rapid economic growth and growing discretionary spending by consumers, while considering factors that may continue to limit business interest in the region. U.S. trade and investment aid programs, especially trade preferences and trade capacity building efforts under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expires in 2015 and may be reauthorized (as the report discusses), are also addressed, as is the nature of U.S. development aid."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .

  2014-07-31
• South Africa: Politics, Economy, and U.S. Relations [May 5, 2014]

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  "South Africa is a multi-racial, majority black southern African country of nearly 52 million. It held its first universal suffrage elections in 1994, after a transition from white minority rule under apartheid, a system of state-enforced racial segregation and socioeconomic discrimination. South Africa entered a period of mourning in late 2013, upon the death of its first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela. He is viewed as the founding father of the country's nonracial democratic system, the 20th anniversary of which was recently celebrated prior to national elections on May 7. South Africa is influential regionally, due to its political, trade, and investment ties across Africa and its active role within the African Union. It is viewed as a U.S. strategic partner in Africa, despite periodic foreign policy differences. In mid-2013, President Obama traveled to South Africa, among other African countries. Key issues addressed in South Africa included bilateral political and trade and investment ties, development cooperation, and shared U.S.-South African aims regarding similar issues across Africa, as well as democracy, youth leadership development, and peace and security. Congress has long been engaged with South Africa, notably during the anti-apartheid struggle, and with regard to post-apartheid socioeconomic development efforts, a key focus of bilateral ties. Since 1992, South Africa has been a leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid, mostly devoted to addressing HIV/AIDS and other health challenges."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2014-05-05
• Ebola: 2014 Outbreak in West Africa [August 8, 2014]

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  Overview: "An ongoing outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the largest, most persistent ever documented, and the first in West Africa, began in March 2014 in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia (the 'affected countries') and has spread to Nigeria. More people have contracted and died from EVD in this outbreak than in any single prior outbreak. In the current outbreak, the case fatality rate (the estimated percentage of infected persons dying) is about 55%; past outbreak rates have ranged between 41% and 88%." U.S. Policy and Congressional Actions: "In late July, the Peace Corps removed its volunteers from the affected region due to the threat of EVD. Ebola was discussed at the August U.S. Africa Leaders Summit (see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R43655, 'U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Frequently Asked Questions and Background).' On August 7, a House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee held a hearing on EVD, at which the CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] director said that the most crucial means of containing the outbreak are efforts to identify cases; treat them appropriately; and prevent further transmission. On July 31, Representative Karen Bass, with 57 original co-sponsors, introduced H.Res.701, a resolution acknowledging the historical severity of the West African EVD outbreak. Multiple Members have called for effective U.S. EVD surveillance efforts and contingency planning, should any EVD cases occur in the United States; and for continuing or expanded and effective U.S. collaboration with multilateral agencies and West African governments to counter EVD. Other possible issues for Congress may include whether the U.S. and international response in West Africa is technically appropriate and is adequately funded."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Cook, Nicolas

  2014-08-08
• South Africa: Politics, Economy, and U.S. Relations [December 6, 2013]

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  "South Africa is a multi-racial, majority black southern African country of nearly 52 million. It held its first universal suffrage elections in 1994, after a transition from white minority rule under apartheid, a system of state-enforced racial segregation and socioeconomic discrimination. South Africa entered a period of mourning in late 2013, following the passing of its first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela, who is viewed as the founding father of today's nonracial South African democratic system. […] In mid-2013, President Obama traveled to South Africa after visiting Senegal, prior to a visit to Tanzania. The trip centered on U.S.-African partnerships in the areas of trade and investment, development, democracy and youth leadership development, and peace and security. Key issues addressed in South Africa included bilateral political and trade and investment ties, development cooperation, and shared U.S.-South African aims regarding conflict mitigation and development across Africa. […] In late 2012, the governing African National Congress (ANC) party, despite some reported internal divisions, reelected as its president Jacob Zuma, ahead of national elections in 2014. Zuma was elected to his first term as president of South Africa by the country's parliament in 2009. The ANC government faces the substantial challenges noted above, along with others, including labor unrest, rising dissatisfaction within key labor constituencies, and dissatisfaction among youths. […] To address these diverse challenges, the government is investing billions of dollars to upgrade infrastructure and improve public service delivery, but is likely to face continuing challenges in meeting popular expectations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2013-12-06
• South Africa: Politics, Economy, and U.S. Relations [December 19, 2013]

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  "South Africa is a multi-racial, majority black southern African country of nearly 52 million. It held its first universal suffrage elections in 1994, after a transition from white minority rule under apartheid, a system of state-enforced racial segregation and socioeconomic discrimination. South Africa entered a period of mourning in late 2013, following the passing of its first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela, who is viewed as the founding father of today's nonracial South African democratic system. Due to its political, trade, and investment ties across Africa and its active role within the African Union, South Africa is influential regionally. It is viewed as a U.S. strategic partner in Africa, despite periodic foreign policy differences. In mid-2013, President Obama traveled to South Africa after visiting Senegal, prior to a visit to Tanzania. The trip centered on U.S.-African partnerships in the areas of trade and investment, development, democracy and youth leadership development, and peace and security. Key issues addressed in South Africa included bilateral political and trade and investment ties, development cooperation, and shared U.S.-South African aims regarding conflict mitigation and development across Africa. [...] In late 2012, the governing African National Congress (ANC) party, despite some reported internal divisions, reelected as its president Jacob Zuma, ahead of national elections in 2014. [...] The ANC government faces the substantial challenges noted above, along with others, including labor unrest, rising dissatisfaction within key labor constituencies, and dissatisfaction among youths. [...] To address these diverse challenges, the government is investing billions of dollars to upgrade infrastructure and improve public service delivery, but is likely to face continuing challenges in meeting popular expectations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2013-12-19
• Powering Africa: Challenges of and U.S. Aid for Electrification in Africa [August 17, 2015]

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  "The largest infrastructure deficit in sub-Saharan Africa, a region mostly made up of low income developing countries, is in the power sector, according to the World Bank. Rates of access to electricity in Africa are very low by global standards, notably in rural areas. About 57% of Africans, or about 621 million people, lack access to electricity (also referred to as 'power' in this report). Whether measured in terms of generation and distribution capacity, electricity consumption, or security of supply, Africa's power sector delivers a fraction of the service needed or found elsewhere in the developing world. Power consumption is a tenth of that found elsewhere in the developing world, and per capita access is gradually falling, because new power infrastructure construction has not kept up with growing populations and electricity demands. The contrast between Africa and the developed world with respect to power capacities is particularly stark. Africa has a generation capacity of about 106 megawatts (MW) per million people, while that of the United States was about 3,320 megawatts MW per million people The lack of power constrains development in the region in multiple ways: It limits economic production, growth, and commerce; undermines human resource development and hinders improved quality of life potentials; and limits the quality of social services and public safety. It also spurs the use of alternative, often highly polluting biomass energy sources (e.g., wood and charcoal) for cooking and lighting. Estimates of African power requirements and the corresponding need for financing vary widely, but are invariably high. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reports that about $15 to $20 billion in annual investment through 2030 may be needed to achieve universal access to electricity, a figure roughly in line with a 2012 International Energy Agency (IEA) estimate."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Campbell, Richard J.; Brown, Phillip (Specialist in Energy Policy) . . .

  2015-08-17
• South Africa: Politics, Economy, and U.S. Relations [July 1, 2013]

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  "South Africa is a multi-racial, majority black southern African country of nearly 52 million. It held its first universal suffrage elections in 1994, after a transition from white minority rule under apartheid, a system of state-enforced racial segregation and socio-economic discrimination. South Africa is influential regionally, due to its political engagement and trade and investment across Africa and its active role within the African Union. It is viewed as a U.S. strategic partner in Africa, despite periodic differences over some foreign policy issues. In late June 2013, President Obama traveled to South Africa after visiting Senegal, prior to a visit to Tanzania. The trip centered on U.S-African partnership in the areas of trade and investment, development, democracy and youth leadership development, and peace and security. Key issues addressed in South Africa included bilateral political and economic ties, development cooperation, and shared U.S-South African aims regarding conflict mitigation, increased trade and investment, and development across Africa. Congress has long been engaged with South Africa, notably during the anti-apartheid struggle, and with regard to post-apartheid socio-economic development efforts, a key focus of bilateral ties. Since 1992, South Africa has been a leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid, mostly devoted to addressing HIV/AIDS and other health challenges. Aid oversight has drawn the bulk of South Africa-related congressional attention in recent years. U.S. policy makers are also increasingly focused on efforts to strengthen already growing U.S-South African trade and investment ties. Other key areas of bilateral engagement include security cooperation and an ongoing U.S.-South African Strategic Dialogue. Established in 2010, the Dialogue centers on health, education, food security, law enforcement, trade, investment, and energy, among other issues."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2013-07-01
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues, Challenges, and U.S. Responses [March 21, 2017]

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  "The 115th Congress and the Trump Administration are reviewing existing U.S. policies and programs in sub-Saharan Africa (henceforth, 'Africa') as they establish their budgetary and policy priorities toward the region while also responding to emerging crises. Africa-specific policy questions did not feature prominently in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, and the views of the Trump Administration on many U.S.-Africa policy issues remain unspecified. The Obama Administration's 'Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa' identified its policy priorities as strengthening democratic institutions; spurring economic growth, trade, and investment; advancing peace and security; and promoting opportunity and development. Analysts continue to debate whether that Strategy reflected an appropriate mix and ranking of priorities, as well as the degree to which the Obama Administration's actions reflected its stated goals."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .

  2017-03-21
• Liberia: Political Transition and U.S. Relations [May 15, 2018]

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  From the Document: "The United States has maintained close bilateral ties with Liberia for nearly 200 years, with periodic exceptions. Ties were particularly close during the Sirleaf years. The U.S. State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have administered a wide range of post-war bilateral assistance programs, especially in the areas of health and economic development. Liberia also benefits from programs administered by other U.S. agencies, including the Department of the Treasury, Peace Corps, Defense Department, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Congress has maintained an interest in Liberia, and has held hearings on its post-war development, stability, and democratization trajectories. Congress has appropriated more than $5 billion in post-war aid and assistance to halt the Ebola outbreak, and helped to foster relations through a House Democracy Partnership with the Liberian legislature. Some Members of Congress, often those with politically active Liberian-American constituencies, have also supported the immigration rights of noncitizen Liberians resident in the United States."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2018-05-15
• Malawi: Key Developments and U.S. Relations [June 2, 2017]

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  "U.S.-Malawi ties warmed following Malawi's democratic transition but faced strains during the 2004-2012 tenure of President Bingu wa Mutharika, whose administration was marred by semi-authoritarian leadership and human rights concerns. Relations improved markedly under Joyce Banda and have remained positive under President Peter Mutharika. U.S. development assistance has long been the main focus of U.S.-Malawian relations. Congressional interest has traditionally centered on such assistance, notably in the health sector, and on governance concerns. In recent years, State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) bilateral assistance to Malawi has ranged between $196 million (FY2014) and $261 million (FY2016). This was supplemented in FY2016 with an additional $102.6 million in disaster response funding, primarily for emergency food aid. The Obama Administration requested $195.6 million for FY2017, and Congress mandated that at least $56 million be allocated to Malawi, and that up to $10 million of this funding be made available for higher education programs. The Trump Administration requested $161.3 million for Malawi in FY2018, centered almost exclusively on health system aid."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2017-06-02
• Cabo Verde: Background and U.S. Relations [February 6, 2017]

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  "Cabo Verde, a small island nation of just over half a million people located off the west coast of Africa, is of strategic significance to the United States because its geographic location has made the country a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine bound for Europe and a key refueling stop-over for trans-Atlantic air traffic between Africa and the United States. The country is also a long-standing U.S. ally in Africa that the State Department has cited as a model of democratic governance in the region since its transition from single party rule to a multi-party political system in 1991. U.S. bilateral aid to Cabo Verde is limited, and centers on military professionalization, counternarcotics efforts, and development projects supported by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Husted, Tomas F.

  2017-02-06
• African Union (AU): Key Issues and U.S.-AU Relations [December 16, 2016]

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  "The AU [African Union] was established in 2002 as the successor to the now-defunct Organization of African Unity (OAU). The aim of the AU is to promote continental economic integration and socioeconomic development through shared political and economic institutions and the planned creation of a common African market. Other key AU goals include greater political and economic unity, peace and security, and stability within Africa; advocacy of common African positions in international forums; strengthened democratic governance and rule of law; respect for human rights; and gender equality and social justice, among others. The current AUC [African Union Commission] chair is Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa. Her priorities have centered on conflict resolution, support for transitional aid in post-conflict countries, AU monitoring of African elections, and efforts to boost economic growth and increase AU finance resources, among other goals."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas; Husted, Tomas F.

  2016-12-16
• Tanzania: Current Issues and U.S. Policy [June 7, 2017]

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  "Tanzania is an East African country comprising a union of Tanganyika, the mainland territory, and the semiautonomous Zanzibar archipelago. The United States has long considered Tanzania a partner in economic development and, increasingly, in regional security efforts. With more than 52 million people, Tanzania is one of the largest countries in Africa by population and is endowed with substantial natural resource wealth and agricultural potential. Over the past decade, it has experienced robust economic growth based largely on favorably high gold prices and tourism; growth has averaged nearly 7% annually. The ongoing development of large reserves of offshore natural gas discovered in 2010 has raised the prospect of substantial foreign investment inflows and export revenue. Nevertheless, corruption and poor service delivery have hindered efforts to curb widespread poverty, and extensive development challenges remain."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cook, Nicolas

  2017-06-07