[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 126 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9175-S9176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMENDING THE SECRETARY OF STATE

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I commend Secretary Clinton on her visit 
to Africa last month. Over 11 days, Secretary Clinton traveled to 
several of the most influential countries on the continent and directly 
addressed some of the most sensitive and critical issues facing them 
and their neighbors. It was one of the most, if not the most, ambitious 
trips by a Secretary of State to sub-Saharan Africa in U.S. history. 
This trip, combined with President Obama's visit earlier

[[Page S9176]]

this year to Ghana, sends a strong signal that the administration is 
committed to making Africa not only a priority, but also an integral 
part of overall U.S. foreign policy. The challenge going forward is to 
sustain a high level of engagement with each of the countries that 
Secretary Clinton visited and back up that engagement with resources 
that can make a tangible difference.
  On her first stop in Kenya, I am glad that Secretary Clinton took a 
strong stand against extrajudicial killings, corruption, and the 
continued failure to prosecute those most responsible for violence 
after the December 2007 election. As Secretary Clinton said, these 
conditions are holding Kenya back from realizing its potential. Worse 
yet, if these conditions persist, we could see a renewal of violence, 
especially in the run-up to Kenya's next elections set for 2012. 
Together with other international partners, we need to keep pressing 
Kenya's leaders to deliver on the reforms they have pledged, beginning 
with reform of the police and judiciary. At the same time, we should 
prepare targeted assistance that can be provided as soon as initial 
steps are taken toward those reforms. The United States and Kenya have 
longstanding and historic ties, and we need to help Kenyans get through 
this difficult period.
  While in Nairobi, I am also pleased that Secretary Clinton focused on 
the dangerous situation in neighboring Somalia and met with President 
Sheik Sharif of Somalia's beleaguered Transitional Federal Government, 
the TFG. I have long urged the Obama administration to engage with 
Sharif at a high level and I am glad that the administration is finally 
doing this, as well as taking seriously the threat posed by al Shebaab, 
an extremist group with ties to alQaida. However, going forward, we 
cannot repeat the mistake of focusing too narrowly on short-term gains 
in Somalia without a long-term strategy. As we help the TFG combat 
insurgents, we simultaneously need to help it to advance political 
reconciliation and deliver critically needed basic services. The TFG's 
ultimate success rests on whether it can establish a viable government 
that is perceived as legitimate and inclusive, representative of and 
responsive to the Somali people.
  Secretary Clinton traveled next to South Africa. Over recent years, 
our relationship with South Africa has cooled considerably, undermining 
our ability to coordinate and work together on issues of mutual 
interest. Yet I believe there is an opportunity now to reverse that 
trend with our new administration and South Africa's new administration 
under President Jacob Zuma. I am pleased that Secretary Clinton seized 
upon that opportunity with her visit, committing to deepening and 
broadening our bilateral relationship in a range of areas from HIV 
prevention to nuclear nonproliferation to climate change. Moreover, she 
talked with South Africa about how we can better coordinate our efforts 
to address regional challenges, beginning with the situation in 
Zimbabwe. We need to institutionalize such coordination, while 
continuing to encourage South Africa to be a leader in human rights and 
peacebuilding on the continent.
  Secretary Clinton's next stop was Angola, a country that is quickly 
becoming an economic powerhouse and regional leader. As Angola 
continues to rebuild from decades of civil war, there is a new openness 
to engaging with the United States, especially as the government seeks 
to diversify their economy. I am pleased that Secretary Clinton seized 
upon this potential by visiting Angola and committed to a 
``comprehensive strategic partnership.'' She agreed to expand our 
engagement not only in the areas of trade and agriculture, but also in 
health, education and governance. Governance is particularly important 
because while Angola has taken some positive steps to increase 
transparency and efficiency, there is still a long way to go. To that 
end, I am especially glad that Secretary Clinton spoke to the Angolan 
National Assembly about its role in demanding accountability and 
transparency, and standing against corruption and abuses of power. We 
need to continue to engage on these issues and encourage Angola's 
democratization process.
  Secretary Clinton next traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, 
with a visit to the eastern city of Goma. I applaud her for choosing to 
focus on the crisis in the eastern Congo, which has gone neglected for 
too long despite its unrivaled human toll and the unspeakable levels of 
sexual violence. Secretary Clinton committed to new efforts to help 
prevent and respond to the high levels of gender and sexual violence, 
while also recognizing the need to address the root causes of Congo's 
crisis, including the exploitation of natural resources by armed 
groups. Taking action to address those underlying causes is difficult, 
but essential. Senators Brownback, Durbin and I have introduced 
legislation that would commit the United States to do more on conflict 
minerals, and I look forward to working with the administration in this 
regard. I also look forward to working with the administration to help 
bring an end to the increasing violence by the Lord's Resistance Army 
in northeastern Congo.
  Following Congo, Secretary Clinton's next stop was Nigeria--a 
critically important country in sub-Saharan Africa and a strategic 
partner and major source of oil imports to the United States. I 
continue to be very concerned about the direction in which Nigeria is 
heading, especially with regards to corruption and the rule of law. I 
am glad that Secretary Clinton touched on these issues, and we must 
continue to press for meaningful reforms to enhance government 
transparency, accountability and the independence of the election 
commission. In addition, I am pleased that Secretary Clinton discussed 
the unresolved crisis in the Niger Delta and pledged to review how we 
might better assist the government's efforts to promote stability 
there. I look forward to working with her as well in that regard. 
However, to be successful, the Nigerian government must expand its 
current amnesty offer to a broader peace process that includes measures 
to address the marginalization and underdevelopment of the region.
  Secretary Clinton traveled then to Liberia, a country with which we 
have historic ties. Secretary Clinton was right to highlight the 
progress that Liberia has made since its civil war, while also speaking 
frankly about the challenges that the country continues to face. I am 
glad that she chose to speak at the Liberian National Police Academy 
and pledged new funds for police training. While great strides have 
been made in reforming Liberia's military, there is still great need to 
improve the capacity and professionalism of its police force. In 
addition, Secretary Clinton focused on corruption and spoke directly 
about this in a speech to the National Legislature. We need to continue 
to work with all parts of the Liberian government to guard against 
corruption and other abuses, both in their democratic process and in 
its management of the country's rich natural resources, especially 
timber.
  Finally, Secretary Clinton visited Cape Verde, a country that has 
made great progress in terms of both economic growth and 
democratization. Cape Verde provided a perfect backdrop to reiterate 
the two major themes of her trip: first, that America believes in 
Africa's promise, and second, that Africa's future is ultimately in the 
hands of Africans. Secretary Clinton delivered these messages 
powerfully and I believe they can be the foundation for a new era of 
U.S. engagement and partnerships with Africa. The challenge going 
forward is to give substance to these words and the commitments that 
were made throughout Secretary Clinton's trip. I look forward to 
working with her and the administration to do this. It will not by easy 
and it will require sustained engagement, greater diplomatic capacity, 
and new targeted resources. But if we get this right, I strongly 
believe the benefits for Americans and Africans can be immense in terms 
of our security and prosperity.

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