John Campbell

Africa in Transition

Campbell tracks political and security developments across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Guest Post: “New Normal,” “New Diversification,” Old Constraints

by John Campbell
Minister of Industry Abdul Wahab Osman tours the White Nile Sugar Factory in El Diwaym, Sudan on March 3, 2012. (Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Courtesy Reuters) Minister of Industry Abdul Wahab Osman tours the White Nile Sugar Factory in El Diwaym, Sudan on March 3, 2012. (Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Courtesy Reuters)

This is a guest post by Jim Sanders, a career, now retired, West Africa watcher for various federal agencies. The views expressed below are his personal views and do not reflect those of his former employers.

Wall Street has a problem: namely, “trillions of dollars are sitting on the sidelines,” rather than being invested. In the recent market rally, there has been little retail participation, experts on Bloomberg Television’s “Taking Stock” program have said. Ordinary people are reluctant to invest. Memories of the 2008 financial crisis remain strong and private and public sector debt also represent constraints. Curbed spending and investment, which slows growth, is part of the “New Normal,” according to Pimco Investment Management firm. Read more »

U.S. Energy Trade Mission to Africa

by John Campbell
A general view shows a cross-section of the Olkaria Geothermal power Plant, near Naivasha, 145 km (90 miles) west of Kenya's capital Nairobi, April 2, 2011. (Thomas Mukoya/Courtesy Reuters) A general view shows a cross-section of the Olkaria Geothermal power Plant, near Naivasha, 145 km (90 miles) west of Kenya's capital Nairobi, April 2, 2011. (Thomas Mukoya/Courtesy Reuters)

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson is leading an eleven day trade mission to Mozambique, Tanzania, Nigeria and Ghana, with a brief stop in Kenya, starting on February 6. The focus of the mission is to look for opportunities for U.S. companies to invest in power generation. The mission is co-sponsored by the Corporate Council for Africa, a private organization that brings together potential business partners as well as seeking to raise Africa’s profile among American investors. According to a State Department announcement, participating U.S. companies are Anadarko Petroleum, Caterpillar, Chevron, Energy International, General Electric, Pike Enterprises, Strategic Urban Development Alliance LLC, and the Symbion and Zanbato Group. In addition to the assistant secretary, the delegation will include a vice chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, representatives from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and from the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources. Companies cover the cost of their participation, not the U.S. government. Read more »

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