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U.S. GOVERNMENT 2: U.S. Gives Africa Money For Trade

On July 20, 2005, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced in Dakar, Senegal, that the United States would be increasing funding to support an African trade program.

The program would remove export duties for thousands of products to be shipped from Africa to the United States.

The United States would provide $1 million in grants to help West African nations improve such things as transportation and infrastructure. With these improvements, the program is hoping that these third world countries will have better resources to trade with civilized nations.

“Only the people of Africa can solve the problems of Africa,” Rice told the Associated Press during a conference. “But for these men and women to fulfill their dreams of democracy and security and prosperity, all developed nations have a responsibility to help.”

The program is also set as an incentive for African countries to curb violence in pursuit of democratic peace. Sudan has leaders who have already promised that they plan to work toward stopping the killing inside the country.

Rice also told conference delegates that the United States “will always offer our full support as the people of Africa build thriving democracies and achieve lasting development,” according to the Associated Press.

--Written by Leah Williams

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