The Future of U.S./Africa policy

In the Apartheid era, Americans – black and white – lobbied the U.S Congress and the White House for sanctions against South Africa. That movement, no doubt, helped precipitate the end of minority rule in what is now Africa’s second largest and most developed economy. Years later, with the increased presence of Africans in the United States, one would assume that Africans would be a major constituent of United States trade and foreign policy formulation for Africa; but that assumption would be wrong.

Now due to expire in September 2015, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is not a much-discussed topic among the African diaspora in the United States. The few ‘talks’ and discussions on the program focus how it’s not ‘fair trade’ or how this and that African country is being excluded from the benefits. In simple terms, the Africans are rather ineffective at lobbying the United States government for policies – political or economic – that would benefit the continent even more.

Interestingly, this may emerge from a host of reasons: For instance, any American, white or black that raises their voice on issues of human rights, democracy or free press in Africa is told he or she doesn’t understand the continent, and therefore shouldn’t open his or her mouth anymore. Any discussion of the conflicts on the continent is seen as conspiracy to colonize the country in question. Invariably, this same group of Africans is quite effective when it comes to questioning the motives of celebrities like Bono and George Clooney in each and every campaign these luminaries come up with.

This dissonance is what, apparently, makes the Africans the most ineffective diasporic population in American political history. Nigerians, Somalis, and Ethiopians – none has an effective lobbying organization in America. And yet fellow immigrant populations like Armenians, Jews, and Greeks have engaged the U.S political system in order to change policy towards their respective countries.

Like we all know, that nation’s interests, sometimes without the consent of their masses, guide every country’s foreign policy. However, in the United States, as demonstrated by a whole host of events – such as the anti-Apartheid era – the American population has a say in the formulation of its mostly messy foreign policy formulation. Thus, the African Diaspora must be compelled to play a specific in this process, and not just limit itself to critiquing the decisions of celebrities that seek to raise awareness of conflicts or disease. Africans must actually go about forming 501(c)(3) entities (non-profits or action committees) like everyone else so that they can make a significant dent in the American political landscape. This is what will change U.S policy towards Africa. If not, U.S policy towards the continent will remain the same.

Like has been observed in various immigrant populations in the United States, the African Diaspora’s ostensible lack of interest in the U.S political system is detrimental to their very hopes and dreams for their continent. For instance, most autocratic African governments – including Zimbabwe – have American advisers, lobbyists, and consultants in Washington, D.C. If these can have success – whatever that means – and continue to be in power, then there must be some good to being active in Washington.

Ultimately, the future of the partnership between the United States and Africa cannot be left to Washington lobbyists, consultants and advisers to formulate. It cannot also be limited to criticizing and back-seat driving. More than anything else, if Africans themselves do not lobby the U.S. government, others will step in to fill those huge shoes – even if they are not as effective. Importantly, lobbying for Africa must not be Balkanized along colonial lines. More importantly, immigrants must cease the pessimism that they are just African immigrants without the political connections to make a change to U.S. – African policy. After all, many of us have lived here long enough to have the power to vote.

The future of U.S/Africa policy is bright. But what to light it up with is the way we are organized. So, let’s get to work. Our first task is to get the U.S to pass AGOA, this time with changes that address our concerns and the needs of our brothers and sisters across the continent.