Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, spoke at the National Press Club yesterday about what the State Department’s policy towards Africa will be under the Obama administration. Carson, who was sworn in last month, highlighted four areas of focus: strengthening democratic institutions, preventing conflict, fostering economic growth and partnering with Africa to combat global threats. Carson has been working closely with President of Obama and Secretary Clinton who he says are deeply engaged in African issues.

“There is no question that some of our past presidents have engaged Africa, but none have engaged this early,” Carson said in reference to Obama’s upcoming trip to Africa.

Carson said that his first area of focus would be strengthening democratic institutions. Despite recent political crises in countries like Zimbabwe and Kenya, Carson pointed out that overall Africa is seeing great progress. Carson noted that in 1973 there were only 3 sub-Saharan African countries that were considered democratic. Today, there are 11 countries considered democratic and 23 considered partially democratic.

“We have to encourage those in civil society to be the voice and conscience of their countries,” Carson said. He points to Kofi Annan’s plan to mediate the post-election crisis in Kenya (which Carson observed on the ground) as an example.

Preventing conflict is Carson’s second focus. The key, he says, is addressing emerging conflicts quickly and diplomatically. Just weeks into the job he said has been working on preventing the further escalation of conflict in Somalia, Kenya and Mauritania.

Next, Carson plans to focus on fostering sustained economic growth. According to him, from the late 1990s up until 2007 many African nations were growing at a rate between 4 and 6.5% GDP.

“If Africa is going to take its place in the world, it must do so under sustained economic growth,” Carson said. Carson points to agriculture as the most important, but neglected, area of international development, and an opportunity for sustained growth. Seventy percent of Africa is dependent on agriculture as a primary or secondary source of income, and it makes up 40 percent of Africa’s GDP.

Finally, Carson plans to partner with Africa to combat global threats. Climate change is one threat he has personally observed. Carson has been to the top of Mt. Kilamanjaro and has witnessed the disappearance of the glacier there.

“What about those living at the bottom of the mountain who use the water from that glacier for their crops?” Carson asks. When it comes to climate change, a partnership with Africa could produce great results in renewable energy, especially solar energy.

As former ambassador to Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs has had a great deal of experience in these areas. He has traveled to forty of forty-eight sub-Saharan African countries and served as Staff Director to the House Sub-Committee on Africa. His background clearly links him to the continent and he will surely inform much of the action that the Obama administration takes towards Africa.

-Nick Stevens