Potentiel International

President Obama understood that dealing without Africa is a great risk

From the 4th to 6th August the American President welcomes the ever first summit of the United States and African Head of States and government. For the Africans who were ignorant that Obama was elected by the Americans who was there for them but failed the Africans. For during his first mandate Obama just visited Africa in two occasions in 2009 in Egypt and Ghana. Nevertheless he corrected this trio in late June and early July in his 8 days visit in Senegal, South Africa and in Tanzania. Africa was expecting more and better from the first world power president of African origin, while at this moment the China president was having a series of tours, from one visit to the other. Therefore as a means to redeemed the time , Barack Obama invited fifty f African head of states and government leaders, so as to “reinforce the links between one of the world dynamic region”, according to his personal saying. Obama understood that there is need to take advantage of the extraordinary potential of Africa who is the youngest continent of the world which is experiencing an immense growth today. In other for Obama to understand this, his advisers had played a great role. For certainly these ones led him to understand that Africa was a land full of opportunities; for all studies demonstrate that Africa is at the point of taking a new turn. According to WALL Street newspaper the 20 “frontiers markets” (are those of the countries at the point of development) and the most attractive for the Americans and European multinationals appear 11 African countries, Nigeria occupy the first position, Kenya at the 5th position and Angola at 6th position. The trade or business ranking rate convinced Obama. Within ten years, the business exchange rate between United States and Africa has greatly double. For within the same lapse of time, those of Africa China have been multiply by 20, jumping from 10 billion to more than 200 billion US Dollars per year. The African market which already had more than a billion of the market population is a promise land for a boom. As for the moment, her are only some multinationals from the petroleum sector, for only few American capitalist have marked Africa. These ones have only received 1% of the American world investment. The United States have decided to abandon the idea that Africa serve as a resort to his colonizers, the Europeans. In the year 2000 the Americans put in place “the Africa growth and opportunity Act” (Agoa), the law that facilitate the access of African Countries to the American market. They congratulated themselves for having created 43 million of jobs in 40 African countries due to the suppression of custom dues. One can say that this law, Agoa ended this year and was of a great fortune for the African countries. Questioning the opportunity of this summit Christopher Fomenyoh, director of National Democracy in Washington answered by saying that it is just a means for Barack Obama to portray his image for the observation of American and International opinions that he also had projects for the African continent. America wanted to reinforce its economic and trade links with Africa by giving a second thought to the government. Why was Cameroon not a beneficiary of”agoa”. The outcome of this summit What does Cameroon gained from this summit? The country of Obama promise 33 billion us dollars which is about 16.170 billion of F Cfa. Obama’s money is a platform where Cameroon could benefit, in addition the discovery of some investment sectors cited by American investors which came in contact with the knowledge of some orientations on the politic of development in Cameroon. During the United States Cameroon economic forum held on 31st July 2014, the Cameroonians authorities insisted on some of them notably the political stability of the country, the progressive increase growth rate, great infrastructures projects, agricultural potentials, mining and energy or again tourism. The 33 billion pronounce by the American President are shared in the various ways: 7 billion ,giving to the public sector for commercial development between America and Africa;14 billion, to the private sector and 12 billion which concern the initiative of “Power Africa” which objective is to improved on the electric supply in homes and enterprises. Concerning this last topic Cameroon possess the second potential in Africa. Never the less only the private sector can invest again in the domain of energy because the initiative “Power Africa” is effectively a multi-partner partnership between the United States governments of America, of Kenya, Tanzania? Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and of Liberia. During the summit Barack Obama focus on the agreement of freedom of exchange between Africa and the United States (Agoa) is renewed, even if today very few African countries benefit from it. Among these countries one can name Cameroon. Reasons: the Cameroonian companies have little knowledge on the functioning of the American markets. Moreover, few Cameroonian Enterprises manufactured or transformed products aimed at giving value to Cameroon; the transportation of goods in Cameroon is very difficult, and the Douala port is saturated and inefficient. Despite many investments done in the domain of energy, Cameroon is still in need of basic infrastructures such as water, roads, portable water and reliable electricity. As for security, Cameroon could benefit from the financial manner of Obama in the case where the “Cameroon of Paul Biya” is engaged in the fight against the Nigerian sect of Boko.And the United States promised a financial help against terrorism. This help has to past through the training of troops, supports to allied, military strategy advice and also some powerful intervention. This help will also involve money in cash, in order to buy military equipments and not for payment of ransom.

Obama, words of advice According to Obama, security, la prosperity and justice are impossible without a strong, prosperous and autonomous Africa. The American president insist on good governance despite the source of revenue of a country for if there is no unify law, respect for civil and human rights, if there is no freedom of speech and gathering, it very rare or difficult for a country to succeed in such condition. The Africa potential will never be exploited in an optimal and beneficial manner to the population as long as Africans will have business and corrupt leaders. Obama laid emphasis on African leaders to support investment and growth. “Capital is one important, as well as development programs are also important but the state of law is very important” mentioned by Obama. For many Africans, Obama is not any position to gives advice to anyone. Today where are the good life and the democracy promised by Obama and Sarkosy after the assassination of Kadhafi?

Jean Pierre Ombolo

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