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.