Africa

Feingold's Bipartisan Legislation Would Bring New Attention and Support to Ending Africa's Longest Running Rebel War

November 17, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed bipartisan legislation today authored by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold and cosponsored by Sam Brownback (R-KS) requiring the Obama administration to develop a new multifaceted strategy to confront one of Africa’s longest running rebel groups, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).    » read more »

Washington, DC, November 12, 2009 -- During a visit to Washington, D.C., a delegation from the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) met today with Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew J. Shapiro, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Thomas M. Countryman, and Robert W. Maggi, the Department’s Coordinator for Counter-Piracy, to discuss the threat to international shipping posed by pirates operating of the coast of Somalia and up to 1000 miles beyond its territorial waters.    » read more »

Pivotal testing of RTS,S is on track for target enrollment of 16,000 children

NAIROBI, KENYA November 3, 2009 -- A pivotal efficacy trial of RTS,S, the world’s most clinically advanced malaria vaccine candidate, is now underway in seven African countries: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. The trial, which is expected to involve up to 16,000 children, is on schedule, with more than 5,000 children already enrolled, researchers announced Tuesday at the 5th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Pan-African Malaria Conference.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- Robert J. Cabelly, 61, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted in the District of Columbia in an eight-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to violate the Sudanese sanctions regulations and to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign power, four counts of violating the Sudanese sanctions regulations, as well as one count apiece of money laundering, passport fraud and making false statements.    » read more »

Senior Administration Officials

Washington, DC -- October 19, 2009 -- MR. CROWLEY: We’re now going to shift from on the record to on background, where we have anywhere from two to four experts who will try to help fill in some of the blanks. [Senior Administration Official], you want to come up, [Senior Administration Official], you want to come up? [Senior Administration Official], you’re going to stay?

Yeah, this is a background briefing attributable to Senior Administration Officials. So you just know who’s in the room, we have [Senior Administration Officials]. So [Senior Administration Officials], you want to come up and get started?

QUESTION: Shouldn’t the experts start by answering the question on money if they know? (Laughter.)    » read more »

Washington, DC -- October 19, 2009 -- SECRETARY CLINTON: Good morning. Good morning. Well, I’m very pleased to be joined today by our Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and the President’s Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration.

And let me begin by saying that the Sudan policy we are outlining today is the result of an intensive review across the United States Government that included the three of us, but many others as well. It reflects the Administration’s seriousness, sense of urgency, and collective agreement about how best to address the complex challenges that have prevented resolution of the crisis in Darfur and full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.    » read more »

Washington, DC -- October 19, 2009 -- In the past, the United States’ approach to Sudan has been reactive rather than proactive and narrowly focused on emerging crises. The new strategy focuses on reinvigorating the international support that is critical to building peace and security in Sudan. The strategy is the first comprehensive U.S. policy on Sudan that recognizes the links between the Darfur crisis and implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.    » read more »

Office of the Spokesman -- Washington, DC -- October 19, 2009 -- Sudan is at an important crossroads that can either lead to steady improvements in the lives of the Sudanese people or degenerate into even more violent conflict and state failure. Now is the time for the United States to act with a sense of urgency and purpose to protect civilians and work toward a comprehensive peace.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- (New York) - The Obama administration's new Sudan policy, announced this morning, represents a positive step toward improving human rights and securing justice in Sudan, Human Rights Watch said today. The policy aims to end conflict in Darfur and ensure implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

It recognizes the need to apply continued and increased pressure on Sudan to obtain progress on human rights and justice for atrocities committed in Darfur to ensure lasting peace in Sudan.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- Washington, DC –Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement in response to the Obama Administration’s announcement that the U.S. will seek to end “gross human rights abuses” in Darfur, ensure implementation of a peace deal that ended war between northern and southern Sudan, and ensure Sudan does not provide a safe haven for terrorists.

"I am encouraged by the announcement of President Obama’s new policy toward Sudan and that existing sanctions against Khartoum will remain in place. The implementation of this policy is a necessary step towards ensuring stability and peace in the region and for the people of Sudan.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, released this statement on the Obama administration’s comprehensive strategy for Sudan:

“We need a comprehensive, coordinated approach toward all of Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur while preventing a return to civil war between the North and South. The administration’s strategy, as presented today, is a good step in that direction. I am pleased that the administration is committed to using ‘all elements of influence’ to achieve these objectives and I look forward to working with them to do so.    » read more »

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) has introduced H.R. 3701, the More Books for Africa Act of 2009. The bill establishes the More Books for Africa Program to facilitate the donation, processing, shipping, and distribution of text and library books to African schools, libraries, community centers, and other centers of learning in partnership with United States-based entities.

“Ensuring access to and availability of textbooks and library books in countries on the continent of Africa is a critical component of our nation’s public diplomacy. The More Books for Africa Program will be a powerful cross cultural initiative to help create a more educated global community,” Congresswoman McCollum said.    » read more »

U.S. and African leaders highlighted economic impediments facing women in Africa and strategies to unleash their economic potential.

WASHINGTON -- Oct. 5, 2009 -- A summit meeting on U.S.-Africa business opportunities drew government, private sector, and civil society leaders from around the world last week to discuss ways to improve women’s economic opportunities. The event included ExxonMobil executive Sara Ortwein, who praised The Corporate Council on Africa for its focus on women and led a roundtable discussion on strategies to promote women's economic development.    » read more »

For the Congressional Record

October 5, 2009 -- "I held a hearing last week of the Subcommittee on African Affairs to explore U.S. policy options toward Zimbabwe’s transition. The hearing confirmed that far too little progress has been made in implementing the Global Political Agreement signed last year and that abuses continue at an alarming rate. The transition remains incomplete and far from irreversible.    » read more »

Find Demonstrates Chevron's Ongoing Exploration Success in Prolific Block 0

SAN RAMON, Calif., August 7, 2009 - Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) announced today that its affiliate, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC) and its partners, had made a successful discovery in Block 0 located adjacent to the Cabinda coastline in Angola.

The 79-3XST1 discovery well, drilled in March 2009 in 397 feet (120 meters) of water to a total vertical depth of 13,000 feet (3965 meters), encountered over 225 feet of net hydrocarbon pay in the Upper Pinda formation. The well was tested from a single 150 ft. perforated interval and flowed at a rate of 11.6 million cubic feet of natural gas and 2,550 barrels of liquid hydrocarbons per day.    » read more »