Senator Joe Biden (D-DL)
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Senator Joe Biden
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL -
A BI-PARTISAN LOOK AT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES' VIEWS ON
US-AFRICA RELATIONS...in their own words
1. Despite international efforts to resolve the Darfur conflict peacefully, the killings and rape continue in western Sudan, and the conflict is described as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. Similar mass atrocities have been visited on the people of northern Uganda and eastern Congo. If elected President of the United States, what specific actions would you take to end the genocide in Darfur, as well as the mass killings in Uganda and Congo? What preventive measures would you recommend to keep similar tragedies from becoming full-blown genocide in the future?
Genocide
Hundreds of thousands of people have died in Darfur because once again the world’s pledge of “never again” has proved an empty promise. For years, I have pushed for stronger action in Darfur, from tougher sanctions on Khartoum to increased support for the African Union to step up humanitarian aid. In the Senate, I have led efforts to name a special envoy and to press China and others to exercise their influence to end the genocide in Darfur. Finally, I have long called for the imposition of a No Fly Zone and the targeted use of U.S. or NATO forces to strengthen the African Union on the ground.
Today, we may at last be close to a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping mission and to the start of peace talks. The United States must vigorously support both efforts -- peacekeeping is urgent; but peace building is essential for a durable settlement -- and hold all the parties to the conflict accountable for ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers and civilians alike. And, we must be prepared to act if, once again, Khartoum backs away from its promised cooperation.
Darfur is sadly not an isolated tragedy. The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has witnessed terrible suffering in recent years, again threatens to slip into chaos and destruction. The United States must offer stronger support for the development of the rule of law and the establishment of government in the DRC and the region. We must also work with the African Union to help it build the capacity to detect and rapidly respond to rising tension before it escalates into such horrific violence.
2. Africa is blessed with abundant natural resources, especially petroleum, diamonds and valuable products. Unfortunately, much of this natural wealth is not brought to bear for the benefit of African citizens. As President, how would you work with resource-rich but economically poor countries in Africa to ensure that their incoming revenues from oil, gas and mining, as well as from other resources, are used to promote poverty alleviation and development rather than simply to fill the coffers of corrupt officials? How would you act to effectively seek the recovery of stolen bilateral aid money?
Resource “Curse”
In too many countries in Africa and elsewhere, oil and other resource wealth has benefited only a few, and too often profits are not accompanied by either economic development or democracy. But the so-called resource curse is not inevitable: we need to help both governments and civil societies develop the capacity and the tools to invest resource profits in their people, to create and abide by standards of transparency, and to promote environmental and labor protections. We should hold these governments accountable for their actions and do more to ensure that we pursue environmentally sustainable policies ourselves here at home and abroad.
3. Africa is facing several environmental challenges, including climate change that threatens traditional African livelihoods, dwindling water resources that deprive more than 300 million people access to safe water and may lead to conflict, diminishing agricultural capacity that has lead to food dependency and disappearing plant and animal species that threaten Africa’s great biodiversity. Given the importance of African ecosystems to the continent and the world as a whole, what policies would you pursue as President to help African nations face these challenges such that the solutions are linked to sustainable development practices?
Climate Change
Climate change is already affecting Africa and will hit even harder in the years to come. Indeed, in Darfur, climate change exacerbated tensions over land control and use and served as a catalyst for conflict. We help Africa first by addressing our energy use here at home.Ihave a detailed plan and legislation thatpromotes energy security. And with Senator Richard Lugar, I have introduced and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolutioncalling on the United States to resume a leadership role in international climate change negotiations. But no matter what we do, these climatic changes are underway. Environmental sustainability should be a core principle underlying and guiding our broader development assistance. Increasing water shortages are already helping to drive conflict – we need to do more to strengthen regional responses to these emerging challenges and to protect both biodiversity and livelihoods.With Senator Lugar, I wrote the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, a "debt-for-nature" mechanism that rewards countries that preserve tropical forests with additional debt relief.
4. Two years ago, the G8 discussed 100% debt relief for the poorest countries, a large increase in development aid and changes to world trade rules that to make it easier for African economies to grow. However, these ideas have yet to be fulfilled through the policies of donor nations. The United Kingdom took the lead on these issues, but the United States and other G8 nations have been reluctant to follow through. As President, how would you deal with the issue of African debt so that poor nations are not crushed under this growing financial burden while ensuring that monies that formerly went to debt service were now able to be devoted to the social and economic needs of these nations?
Debt Relief
I have long fought for debt relief to free countries from burdens often acquired by corrupt dictators who have come and gone. These burdens must not imprison future generations.In the late 1990s, I authored debt relief legislation that helped make the Jubilee debt relief happen. The result was more than $63 billion in forgiveness for eligible countries -- money they will not have to send back to the World Bank, the IMF or wealthy industrial countries. But African nations have also fallen short on their own promises and the Abuja declaration to invest in health and education efforts at home. Relief from debt must be directed toward improvements in people’s lives.
5. When the African Growth and Opportunity Act was first introduced in Congress in the mid-1990s, its mantra was “trade not aid.” However, at least 80% of AGOA trade involved oil and natural gas. What strategies would you propose as President to ensure that African small and medium enterprises outside the extractive industries more broadly realized the benefits of AGOA, which offer more than 6,500 items that Africans can export to America quota-free and duty-free? What would your guiding principles be as regards American trade and investment in Africa?
AGOA
The African Growth and Opportunity Act has created some new winners in the economic marketplace, but we need to do more. Our trade and development policies need to be interlinked, and one goal must be to foster micro, small, and medium business development. Many African countries possess rich resources in oil, minerals, timber, and other commodities, but Africa’s economic future rests on its ability to improve its educational base and address its health challenges.
6. China has become a major international player in Africa through its increasing level of investments in Africa, especially in the extractive industries, as well as numerous infrastructure projects. The Chinese also have promised African leaders that they will double aid and scholarships for African students. However, the G8 nations have warned China that its promise of $5 billion in cheap loans and credit without conditions could worsen Africa’s debt crisis and cause a repayment problem. Moreover, Western nations are concerned that China will be an impediment to the promotion of transparency and good governance in Africa if China is not supportive of international efforts in this regard. What steps would you take as President to address the issue of China’s role in Africa? Do you see the Chinese role as harmful or helpful overall to African nations?
China
China is clearly a major player in international trade. It is Sudan’s biggest customer, and active throughout the African continent. In Darfur we have seen how China and its purchasing power and policy choices can fuel repressive policies, but we have also seenthat Beijing canplay a constructive role when it chooses to, as it has recently in helping to convince Khartoum to accept the peacekeeping mission. I write to China's President Hu, making the case that with China's growing international engagement comes a responsibility to be a good global citizen and urging him to use China's influence in Sudan to press Khartoum to end its support for the janjaweed militia and to negotiate in good faith with the rebel groups. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China has a particular responsibility to live up to that role. Ultimately, we most effectively respond to China’s influence in Africa by helping Africa build its own capacities for economic development and more effective governance.
7. The creation of a combined Africa Command, uniting military, diplomatic and humanitarian assistance personnel under one umbrella, has many in civil society concerned about what is perceived to be a militarization of Africa policy. The concern is that the War on Terror is at the top of all considerations for U.S. action, such as has been the case recently in Somalia. As President, what would be your overall policy thrust toward Africa? How important a role would you assign to military and intelligence considerations in devising an Africa policy? What policies would be adjusted to minimize the security dangers from insecurity due to high unemployment among young, rising numbers of orphans due to AIDS and conflicts and the large number of internally displaced persons?
Security
Africa is important to our security. Terrorism is a real threat to Americans and U.S. interests, and terrorists have struck at Americans on African soil. In particular, failed states can become incubators, havens and training grounds for extremists. So we have a strong self-interest in working to prevent state failure.In this year’s Failed State Index, 8 out of the top 10 countries most at risk of failure were in Africa, and the other two were Iraq and Afghanistan. Failure spins out of internal conflict and bad governance, and we must do more to give Africans and the African Union the tools to address both. We must also recognize that health, education, and economic opportunity are among the best tools in our arsenal to combat instability and insecurity.
We will be tragically short-sighted if, however, we allow a narrow definition of security to define our relationship with the nations of Africa. The Administration has chosen to create a unified combatant command in the form of AFRICOM. As a means to rationalize our own military command structure and allow us to better assist with peacekeeping training and the professionalization of African forces, AFRICOM could offer advantages to all involved. Unfortunately, as an undertaking, AFRICOM has not included sufficient discussion with African leaders themselves, a failure which may jeopardize its chances of success.
8. Africa’s institutions are increasingly more active in peacekeeping and peacemaking. Most notably, the Economic Community of West African States served as the primary mediator and peacekeeping force in the sub-region during the conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau. More recently, the AU has dispatched missions to Darfur, Sudan, Burundi, and Somalia. However, Africa’s sub-regional and continental organizations suffer from severe logistical, resource and capacity constraints. How will the US Government in your Administration work to increase their effectiveness in peace activities, as well as in other governance and economic pursuits?
African Union
For years, the African Union has been the only presence on the front lines trying to stop the genocide in Darfur. That effort has saved lives, but the AU had had neither the means nor the mandate to truly protect the people of Darfur. As a Senator and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, I have championed efforts to assist the AU. I met with its commanders on the ground on the Chad-Darfur border to learn first hand their frustrations and concerns about the limitations placed on their mission. I have also led the way to ensure that the United States provides its fair share to support international peacekeeping efforts more generally. But the AU must be more than an emergency squad. As its architects intended, it can and should be the transnational body that can lead Africa through the twenty-first century, from containing violence before it spirals out of control, to cooperating on regional health and economic challenges. As President, I would provide the African Union and the sub-regional organizations with the logistical, technical, and administrative support they need to pursue that agenda.
9. Over the last five years, African states have taken bold steps towards institutional reform through the adoption of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and its accompanying African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). These new institutions seek to increase economic development and encourage good corporate and political governance. Indeed, the 2002 G8 summit at Kananakis, Canada, adopted NEPAD as the framework by which it would approach development assistance. How will you, as President, work to reinforce NEPAD and the APRM as development and accountability standards for Africa?
NEPAD and APRM
NEPAD and APRM are important African initiatives. Their success depends on African adherence to their standards. The United States can best support accountability for these initiatives by supporting national development plans and strengthening transparency and good government efforts. Across much of Africa, U.S. democracy programs lack the resources that they need: we will not help strengthen democracies by directing resources toward elections but under-funding the capacity building efforts that willgive elections meaning. Indeed, one of the biggest lessons to learn from the failures of our foreign policy these past seven years is that democracy and elections are not synonymous. The latter is necessary but not sufficient: we must put much more sustained focus and energy on building the institutions of democracy, including governments that work and are transparent, independent media and judiciaries, civil society and a vibrant private sector.
10. It is estimated that women in African nations are responsible for three-quarters of all agricultural work and comprise about three-quarters of overall economic output. Nevertheless, women continue to lack full ability to exercise their political and economic rights in many nations, and girls are still too often prevented from receiving an education that will enable them to take their full place in society. As President, how would you integrate efforts to enhance the status of women and girls in Africa into overall Africa policy?
Women
If I could do one thing and one thing only, it would be to give women true equality. Nothing would do more for developing countries than to fully empower half their populations. The status of girls and women constrains not just their own economic and political opportunities and those of Africa itself. Gender inequities are also a direct driver of HIV/AIDS. Our HIV/AIDS policies must be designed to recognize and begin to change these fundamental inequities: abstinence-only programs, for example, will not help women and girls who lack the power to make sexual decisions. We need to use all the available weapons in the fight against AIDS and recognize that girls’ education and women’s empowerment are two of the most powerful. One of my proudest accomplishments as a legislator has been the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act here at home. This year, I will introduce"IVAWA" -- the International Violence Against Women Act, to bring its proven benefits to other countries. Ialso wrote and amleading the effort to enact the Women and Children's Protection Act, which targets the special needs of women and children forced into refugee or internally displaced persons camps. As President, I would ensure that our foreign policy and foreign assistance policies recognize the centrality of women’s empowerment to international health, development, and governance