Regardless of the outcome of the US election this year, a US Government official has said support for the continent will remain in place, but the priority of foreign policy may change.
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Without Obama, Africa will still be supported - US Govt.
A US Government official has said while Barack Obama is leaving office, the States will continue to support Africa.
___4671528___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___4671528___2016___2___10___16___Linda-Thomas-Greenfield
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Answering questions from the press throughout Africa via an online press conference, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield and USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa Linda Etim discussed U.S. diplomacy and development efforts throughout the continent.
Thomas-Greenfield was asked what African countries could expect regarding foreign policy once current US president Barack Obama leaves office.
"We do change governments every four years, sometime we have had the same government stay in power but our support for Africa is bipartisan," she said, adding there had been strong support for the continent through the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations.
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"We know that that support has always been there. It's always been bipartisan. Whether we see some changes in foreign policy priorities, I think that could happen because different administrations have different priorities. Will there be a change in focus on Africa? I don't think so. I think we will continue to see Africa play an important role in our foreign policy in the future."
She was also asked for reaction on growing trade relationships between Africa and China.
Thomas-Greenfield said there were many economic opportunities through Africa, and it was not only the US or China who had trade and development deals in the continent.
She said it was important for African countries to "determine what is in the interest of their country and what is in the interests of their people and strike the best deals that they can strike for their people moving forward."
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She said it was not a competition to invest into Africa, that there is space for different countries to invest.
They were asked what more could be done to combat Boko Haram. Thomas-Greenfield said the US government was working closely with the Nigerian government, and wanted to see the Nigeria police force better involved.
She said "capacity-building" was a key area Nigeria needed to focus on, that security forces needed to be well trained.
Meanwhile, this week it was revealed the president of U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) Shari Berenbach passed away after suffering from advanced breast cancer.
USADF is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government, funding grassroots development projects to African-owned enterprises, cooperatives and community-based organizations to build capacity, resilience and economic activities.
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Berenbach had been leading the USADF since 2012, and was a pioneer in promoting economic growth and prosperity in Africa and an advocate of impact investing for vulnerable and under-served populations, promoting investments that generate beneficial social and environmental impact as well as ensures the resilience of USADF grantees and their communities.
The USADF Board of Directors announced that Constance B. Newman will serve as Acting President/CEO.
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