AFRICA

The United States has achieved a new level of trust and cooperation with

Africa. Our efforts, together with our allies, to achieve peace in southern

Africa, our increased efforts to help the poorest countries in Africa to

combat poverty, and our expanded efforts to promote trade and investment

have led to growing respect for the U.S. and to cooperation in areas of

vital interest to the United States.

Africa is a continent of poor nations for the most part. It also contains

many of the mineral resources vital for our economy. We have worked with

Africa in a spirit of mutual cooperation to help the African nations solve

their problems of poverty and to develop stronger ties between our private

sector and African economies. Our assistance to Africa has more than

doubled in the last four years. Equally important, we set in motion new

mechanisms for private investment and trade.

Nigeria is the largest country in Black Africa and the second largest oil

supplier to the United States. During this Administration we have greatly

expanded and improved our relationship with Nigeria and other West African

states whose aspirations for a constitutional democratic order we share and

support. This interest was manifested both symbolically and practically by

the visit of Vice President Mondale to West Africa in July (1980) and the

successful visit to Washington of the President of Nigeria in October.

During Vice President Mondale's visit, a Joint Agricultural Consultative

Committee was established, with the U.S. represented entirely by the

private sector. This could herald a new role for the American private

sector in helping solve the world's serious food shortages. I am pleased to

say that our relations with Nigeria are at an all-time high, providing the

foundation for an even stronger relationship in the years ahead.

Another tenet of this Administration's approach to African problems has

been encouragement and support for regional solutions to Africa's

problems. We have supported initiatives by the Organization of African

Unity to solve the protracted conflict in the western Sahara, Chad, and the

Horn. In Chad, the world is watching with dismay as a country torn by a

devastating civil war has become a fertile field for Libya's exploitation,

thus demonstrating that threats to peace can come from forces within as

well as without Africa.

In southern Africa the United States continues to pursue a policy of

encouraging peaceful development toward majority rule. In 1980, Southern

Rhodesia became independent as Zimbabwe, a multiracial nation under a

system of majority rule. Zimbabwean independence last April was the

culmination of a long struggle within the country and diplomatic efforts

involving Great Britain, African states neighboring Zimbabwe, and the

United States.

The focus of our efforts in pursuit of majority rule in southern Africa has

now turned to Namibia. Negotiations are proceeding among concerned parties

under the leadership of U.N. Secretary General Waldheim. This should lead

to implementation of the U.N. plan for self-determination and independence

for Namibia during 1981. If these negotiations are successfully concluded,

sixty-five years of uncertainty over the status of the territory, including

a seven-year-long war, will be ended.

In response to our active concern with issues of importance to Africans,

African states have cooperated with us on issues of importance to our

national interests. African states voted overwhelmingly in favor of the

U.N. Resolution calling for release of the hostages, and for the U.N.

Resolution condemning the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Two countries of

Africa have signed access agreements with the U.S. allowing us use of naval

and air facilities in the Indian Ocean.

Africans have become increasingly vocal on human rights. African leaders

have spoken out on the issue of political prisoners, and the OAU is

drafting its own Charter on Human Rights. Three countries in Africa--

Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda--have returned to civilian rule during the past

year.

U.S. cooperation with Africa on all these matters represents a strong base

on which we can build in future years.

Liberia is a country of long-standing ties with the U.S. and the site of

considerable U.S. investment and facilities. This past April a coup

replaced the government and a period of political and economic uncertainty

ensued. The U.S. acted swiftly to meet this situation. We, together with

African leaders, urged the release of political prisoners, and many have

been released; we provided emergency economic assistance to help avoid

economic collapse, and helped to involve the IMF and the banking community

to bring about economic stability; and we have worked closely with the new

leaders to maintain Liberia's strong ties with the West and to protect

America's vital interests.