BU Now » Africa

“The Music Lesson” Screening Tonight

Lauren Davalla — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:00:57 +0000

Al-Qaida growing in Africa

Dick Taffe — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:36:32 +0000

U.S. defense and counerterrorism officials say al-Qaida’s terror network is growing in both strength and numbers in North Africa, threatening to destablize the Sahara region. International relations Prof. Charles Stith, a former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania who direct’s BU’s African Presidential Archives and Research Center, says it’s in America’s interest to help development in Africa.

“Africa is an area of the world where American interests are most vulnerable and where there is one of the best opportunities to defend and propagate the values that are the underpinnings for democracy and the free market. The U.S. needs to look for ways to help its African allies shore up the public and private sector institutions that will enable them to fight off the assaults to the nascent opportunity societies they are trying to create.”

Contact Charles Stith, 617-353-5452, crstith@bu.edu

Somali pirate incident points to wider need

Dick Taffe — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:15:41 +0000

International Relations Professor Charles Stith, director of the African Presidential Archives and Research Center and a former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, says in a Boston Globe op-ed that the Somali pirates’ incident was more than just a superb police action. It’s also a wake-up call for the U.S. to forge a comprehensive diplomatic and military agenda for dealing with Africa and the region.

Contact Charles Stith, 617-353-5452, crstith@bu.edu

“Africa is a continent and not a country”

Dick Taffe — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:23:59 +0000

Former two-term President Festus Mogae of Botswana, beginning his stint as the sixth African President in Residence at BU’s African Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC), talks in a BU Today interview about what he hopes to accomplish during his three-month residency on the Charles River campus.

Obama must pay Africa mind

Dick Taffe — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:41:11 +0000

International Relations Professor Charles Stith, director of the African Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC) and former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, just returned from an 8-nation trip to Africa where he met with current and former leader to discuss the Obama administration’s likely role on the continent. Stith was in Washington today to brief Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Sen. John Kerry on the trip.

“The United States has vital economic and security interests in Africa that must be addressed within the context of these complex and troubling times. The Obama administration must balance its human rights concerns for issues like Darfur, Congo, and Zimbabwe with human development needs that are served by such initiatives as the Millennium Challenge Account, the Africa Education Initiative, and the African Growth and Opportunity Act.”

Contact Charles Stith, 617-353-5452, crstith@bu.edu

African democracies await “enlightened” Obama administration

Dick Taffe — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:23:40 +0000

International Relations Professor Charles Stith, director of the African Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC) and former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, says African leaders tell him they are hopeful about the enhanced role the U.S. may play on their continent.

“Having just returned from a trip to eight African countries and meeting with six heads of state, there is a great deal of anticipation and expectation regarding a more enlightened policy from the new Obama administration. Clearly there is a role for the U.S. to play in issues like Zimbabwe, Darfur, Congo, and Somalia. Leadership in governments on the continent are interested in working with the United States to come up with some positive and proactive solutions to some of these pressing challenges.”

Former Ambassador Discusses Somali Pirate Attacks

Tom Testa — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:52:08 +0000

With news of Somali pirates wreaking havic off the East African coast, former U.S. Ambassador to the region and current professor of international relations, Charles Dunbar, joined WGBH’s Greater Boston with Emily Rooney to offer analysis.

Watch: A sudden rise in pirate activity