Obama appoints key team leaders to focus on pressing problems.
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BOSTON — All of Africa celebrated when Barack Obama was inaugurated as president of the United States.
The continent swelled with pride that a son of Africa had become the most powerful leader in the world. Expectations remain high that Obama will implement policies that boost Africa's importance on the world stage, initiate fair trade policies and result in beneficial economic development.
Although in his first days Obama has not focused on African issues, he has put in place a team with the experience and commitment to develop new strategies and approaches to the continent, particularly in problem areas such as Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
Obama’s early appointments — of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and Johnnie Carson as the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs — put two people well known as friends of Africa in leadership positions.
Clinton has made many trips to Africa, as first lady and as a senator, and has publicly advocated that the U.S. develop more mutually beneficial relations with African countries.
And Johnnie Carson long ago rose above jokes about sharing the name of America's longtime late night talk show host. Among Washington's Africa hands, Carson is known as a savvy, hands-on specialist in African affairs.
Carson, an African-American, is an accomplished diplomat with a deep knowledge of Africa. As a career diplomat in the state department for 37 years, Carson served as ambassador to Kenya (1999-2003, Zimbabwe (1995-97) and Uganda (1991-94). Before he entered the foreign service, Carson was a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania. He is an expert who has a no-nonsense approach toward African problems.
Clinton and Carson will be challenged by the array of African problems that confront them.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090428/obamas-100-days-africa
