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| | | Title | U.S - Africa Relations: Eastern Africa and the Horn Position Paper Final Report | | Author | ACBF; Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) | | Subject | US- Africa Relations, International Relations | | Date of Publication | 2014 | | Publisher | ACBF, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) | | Number of Pages | 99 pages | | Language | English | | Geographical Coverage | Africa, Eastern Africa and the Horn | | Keywords | Peace and Security, Democracy and Leadership, Trade, Investments, Remittances, Foreign aid, Infrastructure, Socio-cultural | | Abstract | This study seeks to analyze the state, evolution, opportunities and challenges facing US-EAC and the Horn of Africa relations. More specifically the study seeks to analyze the role of the US in promoting good governance, peace and security, economic engagements and socio-cultural interaction in the EAC and Horn region. The East Africa and the Horn of Africa region faces a number of peace and security challenges including terrorism, maritime piracy, transnational criminal networks, armed conflict in Somalia and South Sudan, and organized crime. The Summit should address how the US should work closely with national governments and regional security institutions including AU, IGAD, EAC and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to effectively address peace and security. Bad governance, poverty, the rising threat of international terrorism in East and Horn of Africa region are issues of mounting concern. The US has partnered with many African countries in areas of governance through United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Because of the strategic importance of the region, the summit should seek ways on how US can partner with countries in the region can forcefully address governance and leadership challenges in advancing peace and security, strengthening institutions of governance, promotion of transparency and governance reforms, conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms and partnership in the war on terrorism. Countries in the East Africa and the Horn enjoy trade preferences from the United States (US) through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) started in 2000 and the generalized system of preferences. The East Africa and Horn has for long enjoyed cordial ties with the U.S. However, in terms of investments, FDI inflow to the region has been minimal compared to competitor countries including France and the U.K. The US is an important destination country for immigrants from the region. The summit should commit and recognize that human rights of immigrants should be respected and partners upscale efforts to combat human trafficking. Foreign aid from the USA to East Africa and Horn countries has registered a significant growth. To ensure effectiveness of aid in supporting growth and development, East Africa and Horn countries should seek for more aid on development projects and both address the volatility and unpredictability of aid. The US has been actively engaged in infrastructure development within the EAC and Horn of Africa region. The overriding theme for the renewed US relations in the region should focus on transforming the economies through infrastructure development tailored on mutually beneficial partnerships. Countries across Eastern Africa and the Horn have received wide support from the USA in education, health, and other socio-cultural areas. Concerns by the US about human rights have affected the flow of aid to Countries such as Uganda especially regarding gay rights. | | Copyright Holder | ACBF | | Copyright URL | http://www.acbf-pact.org | | Filesize | 1893471 MB | | File Format | PDF | | [ View / download original document ] |
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