US hopefuls keep Africa in the background

IN A fascinating battle for
the Democratic presidential
candidate, and the decision
whether the US votes
Republican or Democrat
still to come, there seems
to have been utter silence
from both parties on
intended Africa policy.
A source at the US
Embassy told FTW that
there had been no official
releases yet on the subject.
There is also the
natural presumption that,
this early in the election
process, US domestic
matters would take
precedence – and foreign
affairs policies are more
likely to be revealed by the
parties closer to the final
election.
The historical records
show that the Democrats
should be the more
active party in furthering
supportive African policy.
It was the Democrats
under president Bill Clinton
that instituted the African
Growth and Opportunity
Act (Agoa), and the
American trade policy
with the new SA was also
generated by that regime.
The African connection
for Barak Obama, currently
the front-runner in the
race to be the Democratic
candidate for presidency,
would also indicate that a
beneficial relationship with
Africa could be part of his
policy – one that would
also generate support with
the African American voter
element.