World Malaria Day: President's Malaria Initiative Helping Save Lives, Treat Disease

Efforts to reduce deaths caused by malaria in 15 African countries are succeeding because of a cooperative strategy based on partnerships between the United States and each African nation, says first lady Laura Bush.

"In 2005, President Bush took action to respond to this crisis by launching the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI).  PMI is a five-year, $1.2 billion program that's combating malaria in 15 African focus countries," says Mrs. Bush.  "Partnerships are at the heart of PMI's strategy."  more

- Malaria Awareness Day, 2008: The Proclamation by the President Bush

Bush Orders $200 Million for Emergency Food Relief

Responding aggressively to a worsening global food crisis, President Bush has ordered an estimated $200 million in emergency U.S. food assistance for global relief efforts and to help relieve political instability in some regions.
"This additional food aid will address the impact of rising commodity prices on U.S. emergency food aid programs, and be used to meet unanticipated food aid needs in Africa and elsewhere," the White House said in a statement.
Bush directed Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer April 14 to draw the funds from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, which is a food reserve for emergency needs in the developing world, to meet global emergency needs abroad.  "With this action, an estimated $200 million in emergency food aid will be made available through the U.S. Agency for International Development," the White House said. more

Africa Partnership Station: the USS Fort McHenry in Dakar

The United States Navy Ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) of the Africa Partnership Station visited Senegal from April 2 to 12, 2008.
During this second visit, the Africa Partnership Station delegation organized follow-up training for local Navy personnel and participated in a symposium on security and safety at sea.  Volunteer work was also performed at a local orphanage and at a Koranic school located in Pikine, which is affiliated with the local NGO Tostan.
The Africa Partnership Station (APS) is a multinational effort aiming to enhance regional maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa.  APS includes Navy personnel from 8 different African, European and North American countries.

U.S. Releases Human Rights Reports for 2007

At a March 11 press conference marking the public release of the annual 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Rice said: “In every region of the world, men and women are working peacefully, and often at great risk to themselves and their families, to secure human rights and fundamental freedoms, to follow their consciences and speak their minds without fear, to choose those who would govern them and to hold their leaders accountable and to achieve equal justice under the law. more

- Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2007
- 2007 Annual Human Rights Report for Senegal

Dakar’s American Information Center Partners with a Senegalese Islamic Educational Institution

The Dakar American Information Center (AIC) hosted two library interns from the Al Azhar Institute in Touba.  Al Azhar is the educational institution of the important Mouride Islamic Brotherhood in Senegal.  Two staff members from the institute spent a week at the AIC learning the basics of library management and learning to use IIP’s Arabic language resources, gathering information on Islam in America, as well as information on health, education and business. 

First U.S. Envoy to Organization of the Islamic Conference Named

President Bush has appointed high-tech executive Sada Cumber as America’s first special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

“The core of his mission is to explain to the Islamic world that America is a friend -- a friend of freedom, a friend of peace,” Bush said after a February 27 Oval Office meeting with Cumber.

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1951, Cumber immigrated to the United States in 1978 and has been a U.S. citizen since 1986.  A successful and well-known entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas, Cumber has founded six companies in the past 25 years, and most recently served as chief executive officer of SozoTek, a firm that specializes in wireless imaging. more

Bush Urges Congress To Double U.S. Aid to Africa

Since taking office in 2001, the Bush administration has doubled U.S. aid to Africa in a move viewed as the single largest development undertaking since the reconstruction of postwar Europe under the Marshall Plan.

But before leaving office, President Bush would like to see U.S. aid to the continent doubled again.

“Congress needs to make America's commitment clear by fully and promptly funding our development programs, and presidential candidates of both parties should make clear that engagement with Africa will be an enduring priority of the United States,” Bush said in a February 26 speech, following his six-day, five-nation tour of Africa. more

President Bush Cites Positive Changes in Africa

Africa has changed “in a very positive way” since President Bush first took office seven years ago, he said in Ghana February 20.  He attributed that positive change to the work of African leaders.

“There were six regional conflicts when I was elected president," Bush said at a press conference with Ghanaian President John Kufuor.  "Take Liberia, for example.  It was a real issue and a real problem, along with Nigeria.  With John’s advice for example, I made some decisions along with other leaders that helped put in place the first democratically elected woman [president] in the continent’s history,” Bush said, referring to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. more

Bush Africa Trip To Highlight U.S. Partnership with Region

President Bush’s upcoming visit to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia will demonstrate America’s commitment to the people of Africa and highlight how the United States has partnered with African leaders to address the challenges of disease, poverty and security.

National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley told an audience at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington February 4 that “together we have made remarkable progress,” with many U.S. and African programs making “a real difference.”  more

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U.S. Elections and the Economy

Although Iraq and terrorism are often top stories of the American newspapers, the concerns of voters about the economy are as strong as their feelings about the war in Iraq. According to recent polls, 82% of voters regard economic issues as very important. Their concerns at the moment affect several areas.

- Voters, Candidates Shifting Their Attention to Economic Issues

Army General Nominated to Head New U.S. Africa Command

General William E. Ward, an Army officer, is President Bush’s choice to be the first chief of the new U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which will coordinate U.S. government support for nations across the continent. (more)