TON RICA ive months into the year, the members of the new administration's Africa team are almost aIl F in place. There are sorne signaIs that the period of continuity by default may be coming to an end, as Framework Bush holdovers and interim officiaIs move on and new appointees senle into their offices. On May 3 National Security Adviser Anthony Lake devoted bis first public address to African issues, telling African ambassadors at a Brookings Institution for Afriea luncheon that the White House knows "where Africa is" and wants to build a new relationship based on the rapid movement toward democracy on the continent. Two days later Under Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers proposed $14 million for debt Poliey reduction for the world's poorest countries, which he said would translate to $228 million in debt relief, mostly for Africa. Meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu on May 19, President Clinton announced the long-awaited D.S. New Administration, decision to recognize the government of Angola. Later that week Secretary of State Warren Christopher addressed the African American Institute's annual New Congress gathering of African and American leaders, reaffirming U.S. commitment to the continent. The long delay in recognizing Angola, while former statements signaled that Africa wouId not be over­ U.S. client Jonas Savimbi waged war to upset the looked, despite competition from high-priority domes­ verdict of last September's election in that country, had tic issues and other foreign crises. symbolized the failure of the new administration to But the political realities mean that keeping that break with former policies. Together with the lack of promise will be by no means automatic. Clinton's an effective response to the crisis in Zaire, that failure political priorities and decision-making style mean that had accentuated fears among Africa advocates that policy on particular issues will be the result of compro­ Africa would be relegated to bureaucratic neglect, mise among many different bureaucratic and political without high-Ievel concem to tum support for democ­ interests, and that Africa will only get continuing racy and development from rhetoric into action. attention if the Africa constituency is seen to be Administration officiaIs said the new high-Ievel actively mobilizing around a common agenda. With Printed on Recycled Paper most Mrican issues virtually invisible to the media, there is opposed by environmental and development advocacy no automatic pressure for the White House to pay atten­ groups, inciuding the Washington Office on Africa, 'be­ tion. cause of his role as an apologist for orthodox structural Nor will there be any clear consensus on policy direc­ adjustment programs. tion., Everyone is likely to be in favor of democracy, In short, the need for outside advocacy will be undimin­ development and conflict resolution. But translating the ished. When there are tough decisions to be made regard­ rhetoric into specific policy decisions will reveal sharp ing allocating staff time, political capital or money to crises differences in practice on what democracy means, what around the world, Africa will only get -its share if voices are development poHcies are sustainable, or what approaches speaking out both in Congress and among the public. And to conflict resolution make sense. Washington's prevailing orthodoxies will not easily give The new administration has more high-Ievel officiaIs due weight to viewpoints sympathetic to African grass­ who are acquainted with African issues than under any roots interests. previous D.S. president. Anthony Lake at the National Writing recently in Social Policy magazine, activist Zach Security Council has a solid background in Mrican and Polett of the Association of Community Organizations for development issues, including service as an election Reform (ACORN) reflected on citzens' groups experiences monitor in Namibia. NSC staff director Nancy Soderberg with Clinton in Arkansas. His advice: "Clinton doesn't like dealt with African issues while on Senator Kennedy's staff. to go out on a limb; he won't act on a measure, even if he At lower levels in a variety of agencies, Africa advocates agrees with it, until it has clearly demonstrated popular will find people who know something about the continent. support." And: ((The first key to influence for progressive Many of them also have sorne sympathy ,and understanding citizen groups was to make enough noise to be recognized for an agenda oriented to grassroots development, democ­ as 'one side of the issue.'" racy and pro-active conflict resolution. But the background Experience on Angola, where Clinton's response came of many officiaIs reveals viewpoints often at odds with the only after the emergence of a solid public consensus on anti-apartheid movement and advocates of grass-roots recognition, seems to confirm Polett's analysis. Even with African causes. the new Clinton Africa team in place, Polett's advice is still At the State Department Deputy Secretary CHfton likely to apply. On any controversial issue-and that Wharton, one~(the most senior Af!:ic~n-Amet}c~.inl~e incl':ldes any issye that involves spending müney-the administration, dealt with African universities as a univer­ result will depend not only on the inside bureaucratic sity administrator. In that capacity, and as administrator of process but also on input (or the lack of it) from Congress the TIAA-CREF retirement fund, he opposed the anti­ and the public. apartheid moyement's demands for divestment of stock in This issue of Washington Notes on Africa is designed to companies involved in South Africa. Frank Wisner and supply Africa advocacy groups with key names and contact Charles Freeman, in high-Ievel positions at the Defense numbers in th~ administration and in relevant Congres­ Department, played prominent roles as State Department sional committees. In addition to the Mrica Subcommittees officiaIs in the Reagan and Bush 'constructive engagement' in both House and Senate, we have inciuded the Congres­ policies in southern Africa. The Pentagon's veteran Africa sional Black CauClis, now expanded to an unprecedented specialist, James Woods, is staying on, as the Defense 38 members in the House, plus one Senator. We have Department lobbies for a greater role in conflict resolution included the international subcommittees of the Appropria­ and democratization initiatives in Africa. tions committees, which deal with any subject requiring As chief economist at the World Bank, Treasury Depart­ appropriation of funds, and the international committees of ment appointee Lawrence Summers was intimately in­ the Banking committees, which have oversight over volved with African issues. His appointment was strongly international financial institutions and issues. WASHINGTON NOTES ON AFRICA is pubIished three times a year by the WASHINGTON OFFICE ON AFRlCA, 110 Maryland Ave., N.E., Suite 112, Washington, D.C. 2COO2, (202) 546-7961. The Washington Office on Africa is a not-for-profit, church and labor union support.ed organization that works WÎth Congress on Airica-telated legislation. SPONSORS OF11IEWASHINGTON OFFICE ON AFRICA: African Methodist Episcopal O1urchj Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union; The American Committee on Mticaj Christian Church (Disciples of ChrisOj Church of the Brethren; Episcopal OlurchJ Coalition for Human Needs and Public Affairs Office, Executive Council and the Washington Office; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers; Missionaries ofAfrica; Presbyterian Church (USA); Progressive National Baptist Convention, Home Mission Board; The Reformed Church in America; Sacred Heart Pathers; Society for African Missions (S.MA Fathers)j United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers ofAmerica, UAW; United Church of Christ, Board for World Ministries, Office for Church in Society, and Commission for Racial Justice; United Methodist Church, Board ofGlobal Ministries Aftica Office and Women's Division; United Steelworkers of America. SUBSCRIPI10N RATE: We request a $30 annual contribution to receive this newsletterplus periodic legislative alerts on African issues. Additional copies of this issue are available for $3.00 each for 1~10; $2.75 each for Il-50, $250 each for more than 50. Add 15% for postage and handHng, aU orders must be paid in advance. PRODUCED DY: Imanl Countess (Executive Director), William Mintet, Kristen Lee, John Metzel, Janice Hoggs, James Taylor and Kathi Austin. 2 Washington Notes on Afrlca Ke. ministrati n Officiais for Africa Name Tille Address Phone Fax Anthony Lake National Security Advisor White House / 20500 456-2256 456-2883 Samuel Berger Deputy N.S.A. White House / 20500 456-2257 456-2883 Nancy Soderberg Staff Director, NSC White House / 20506 456-2224 456-2560; 395-3380 Jennifer Ward Senior Director for African Affairs, NSC White House /20506 395-3391 395-5673 Warren Christopher Secretary of State Dept. of State /20520 647-5298 647-6434 CUtton Wharton Dep. Secretary of State Dept. of State / 20520 647-9640 647-6047 Timothy Wirth Counselor, Department of State Dept. of State / 20520 647-6240 647-0753 Brian Attwood AID Administrator AID / 20523 647-0183 647-0148 Carol Lancaster Deputy Administrator (nominee) AID / 20523 pending Senate confirmation Dick McCali Ch ief of Staff AID / 20523 647-9622 647-1770 Madeleine Albright Amb. to the UN U.S. Mission to the UN 212-415-4404 212-415-4443 799 UN Plaza, NY, NY 10017 George E. Moose Asst. Sec. of State for African Affairs Dept. of State / 20520 647-4440 647-6301 Edward Brynn Dep. Asst. Sec. of State for African Affairs Dept. of State / 20520 647-4485 647-6301 ("Regional Affairs") Prudence Bushnell Dep. Asst. Sec. of State for African Affairs Dept. of State / 20520 647-2447 647-6301 ("Democracy & Human Rights Issues") To be appointed Dep. Asst. Sec. of State for African Affairs Dept. of State / 20520 647-6301 ("Economic Affairs") Les Aspin Secretary of Defense Dept. of Defense / 20301 703-695-5261 703-695-1219 Frank Wisner Undersec.