Sanders Discussed ECOWAS Key Role on Eve of Gambian Crisis; What is Next?

Although Gambian crisis is over, during the tense days prior to the resolution, Ambassador Sanders, who had served as the U.S. Government's Permanent Representative to ECOWAS highlighted the issues, and underscored the importance the unity of ECOWAS was playing in the resolution of the crisis. Sanders appeared on Al Jazeera English (AJE) January 18-19 as the crisis was reaching a crescendo as the deadline for former President Jammeh departure reached crisis stage and as ECOWAS further stepped up its pressure on Jammeh and as President Adama Barrow was sworn in as the country's new president in Senegal. Jammeh had ruled Gambia ruthlessly for 22 years.

But What Is Next?

The question now is whether or not Jammeh will get away with impunity, which would not serve the resolution of the crisis well. Democracy is several things: freedom of speech, association, the press, free and fair elections, and respect for the rule of law, which includes not getting a pass on impunity. Sanders notes this in her AJE interview that as Sub Saharan Africa (SSAfrica) continues to have mature democratic processes and it also must show that leaders who break the law, and steal from the wealth of their nation must answer for their crimes. Despite Jammeh being given exile in Equatorial Guinea, EG, (an interesting choice given that EG's leader has behaved similarly to Jammeh over nearly as many years), it will be important for the SSAfrica region to demonstrate that impunity is no longer an acceptable practice in the SSAfrica. If the reports are true that Jammeh and his family have amassed more than $USD22 million, put scores of people in jail, and violated the human rights and dignity of so many during his 22 year rule than the next step in the democratic process will be to address these issues and concerns. We need to hope that it does take 40 years, like it did with former Chadian leader, Hassan Habre, to be brought to trial. That being said ECOWAS has demonstrated key strategic leadership that the African Union has yet to do. Congrats to ECOWAS and in particular, Presidents Sirleaf, Buhari, and Macky Sall, the latter also for his democratic leadership and support for African nations remaining in the #International Criminal Court (ICC), and on finally ensuring that Habre stood trail.  See the AJE interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttzC4f4hvv8

Ambassador Sanders Present Analysis on VOA:South Sudan Security,Leadership

Ambassador Sanders on Voice of America's Africa54 news program

VOA's Esther Githui Ewart, anchor for its key news show Africa54, discusses the political instability in South Sudan with Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and Congo, and current CEO of the FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative, who servered as Deputy Political Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan when it was one country, but has worked on Sudan issues over the life of her career. The current South Sudan crisis has prompted the  disappearance of Vice President Riek Machar, leaving South Sudanese President Salva Kiir firing him and swearing-in a new Vice-President Taban Deng Gai on July 26, 2016. Sanders presented the following analysis on the issues. Click here to see show: Political Instability in South Sudan: https://youtu.be/NUB66CzRTsI

 

A FEEEDS BlogSpot

Ambassador Sanders Present Analysis on VOA:South Sudan Security,Leadership

Ambassador Sanders on Voice of America's Africa54 news program

VOA's Esther Githui Ewart, anchor for its key news show Africa54, discusses the political instability in South Sudan with Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and Congo, and current CEO of the FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative, who servered as Deputy Political Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan when it was one country, but has worked on Sudan issues over the life of her career. The current South Sudan crisis has prompted the  disappearance of Vice President Riek Machar, leaving South Sudanese President Salva Kiir firing him and swearing-in a new Vice-President Taban Deng Gai on July 26, 2016. Sanders presented the following analysis on the issues. Click here to see show: Political Instability in South Sudan: https://youtu.be/NUB66CzRTsI

 

A FEEEDS BlogSpot

FEEEDS-Gallup 3rd Annual Event- Round-Robbin Media Clips of Africa SME Program

Allafrica.com: Allafrica.com:  http://allafrica.com/stories/201607181038.html; Ambassador's article with Gallup's Africa Director on Key Africa Development Data: http://allafrica.com/stories/201607181040.html;

Diplomatic Courier Newspaper: http://www.diplomaticourier.com/gallup-feeeds-african-diaspora-business-forum/

Television Continental: https://youtu.be/2hldUBLdPzc

Ambassador Sanders joins Gallup for FEEEDS-Gallup 3rd Annual Event on Africa in Washington, D.C.

Gallup World Poll and FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative will host a curtain raiser July 14, 2016, in Washington, D.C. for President Obama's upcoming second U.S.-Africa Business Forum, which will be held in New York on September 21.

This third annual U.S.-Africa event sponsored by Gallup and FEEEDS highlights the centrality of Africa Diaspora Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in job creation and development of the Continent's middle class.

The forum, which is supported by media partner allAfrica.com and leading Africa energy and pharmaceutical firm GB Group Global, will take place from 1:30-4:30 pm at Gallup World Headquarters, 901 F Street NW in Washington, DC 20004.

The event features presentations by President Obama’s Special Assistant and Senior Director for African Affairs Catherine E. Byrne, as well as senior officials from the Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, members of the President's Doing Business in Africa Council, and the African Center for Strategic Studies.

Gallup Managing Partner Jon Clifton said the upcoming event "provides an opportunity for Gallup to share key polling data about the positive things happening today on the African Continent, from people being more upbeat about election processes to millennials in Africa having confidence to start their own SME business in their country of origin despite economic challenges."

Dr. Gloria Herndon, president of GB Group Global, whose international firm does significant business on the Continent in the energy and pharmaceutical sectors and is launching a ground breaking HIV drug with its operation in Nigeria, says “SME’s are crucial to the success of our initiatives given the focus on local content and capacity building.”

"For AllAfrica Global Media, which produces the leading online resource for news and information from Africa, this event provides an important ‘scene setter’ for the Obama business forum in New York, which is expected to draw broad participation from both Fortune 500 firms and American and African Small and Medium Enterprises,” said AllAfrica CEO Reed Kramer.

Ambassador Robin Sanders, CEO of the FEEEDs Advocacy Initiative and chief organizer of the event, underscored the importance of “bringing together both African and African-American SME businesses as one diaspora interested in doing business on the Continent."