Pretoria - A strong African Union is crucial for sustaining healthy relations between Africa and America, US President Barack Obama said.
“We stand ready and eager to work with the African Union… If there is a strong African Union, any help that is provided by the US becomes more effective than us doing things on our own,” Obama said after meeting with African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The two met in Johannesburg on Saturday, where they discussed issues of mutual interest.
“President Obama also highlighted the great opportunity existing for cooperation with Africa in various areas under the leadership of the AUC chairperson,” said the AUC in a statement issued after the talks.
The focus of their conversation was on development, food security, trade, infrastructure, energy and security, with an emphasis on building the capacity of women and youth across these areas.
“Dlamini Zuma highlighted that women and youth remain at the centre of any development efforts, as they will be the drivers towards prosperity. She called for more US support to academic and research institutions to strengthen their capacity for skills development on the continent.”
The statement said Obama assured Dlamini Zuma of the many areas of cooperation, and expressed the US’s willingness to work together to ensure mutual benefits for the US and African countries.
Identifying the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA,) which has benefitted a number of African countries, Obama said the timing was just right to find ways to improve its performance, given its renewal due in 2015.
Agoa was enacted in May 2000 to expand US trade with sub-Saharan Africa and stimulate the economies of the participating countries. Each year, the President of the United States determines the countries eligible for Agoa benefits, which include trade preferences that essentially allow goods produced in the eligible countries to enter the United States duty-free.
There are currently 40 countries eligible for Agoa benefits. The three most recently eligible countries are Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Guinea and Niger, all of which held democratic elections.
Dlamini Zuma noted the importance of extending AGOA to impact on economic growth, unity and integration of the continent. About 38 of 54 African countries currently benefit from AGOA.
In the area of peace and security, Obama encouraged the AU and its member states not to pull out fast from Somalia.
“He equally noted the situation in South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Central Africa Republic and Uganda with the Lord’s Resistance Army. He extended his government’s readiness to provide support in any ways that it could, including building capacity. But he quickly added that local support from the region will be needed.” – SAnews.gov.za
