VOA: Clinton Answers China’s Challenge in Africa – In 2009, China surpassed the US as Africa’s largest trading partner, just as “Chinese aid and investment in Africa have also grown rapidly.” At the heart of China’s increasing presence in Africa is a goal to “gain access to the continent’s rich energy and mineral resources needed to drive its own rapid economic expansion.” During Clinton’s visit to Africa this week she highlighted the important of “a model of sustainable partnership that adds value, rather than extracts it.” (Terry Wing)
Devex: Annan or Obama: Who’s got it best for Mozambique? – As Mozambique works to develop its agriculture sector, it is stuck between two conflicting models – “more government action and more support for small farmers” and a “fundamental change” in donor policies a la Kofi Annan or Obama’s model that uses big agribusiness to fight hunger. (Ivy Mungcal)
Reuters: Somalia: Progress on a Constitution – More than 600 Somali delegates passed an interim constitution Wednesday amid a suicide bombing scare outside the conference. The draft “is meant to help the violence-torn East African country return to stability,” and will be subject to a nationwide referendum once security increases.
U.S. News & World Report: Opinion: Olympics, AIDS Conference Give Hope – Two recent global gatherings, the London 2012 Olympic Games and the XIX International AIDS conference, have created some much needed “brimming, positive energy” around the world. At the 2012 IAC, Hillary Clinton promised to chart the course towards an AIDS-free generation, and doctors, policy directors and those living with the disease placed a global emphasis on how to “treat, prevent, and live – not a living death – with AIDS.” (Jamie Stiehm)
