Pompeo hails Angola’s effort to stem corruption

(3 minutes read)

·        United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  is in Angola as a part of his visit to Africa to build bridges between the US and Africa, which is touted as the most happening continent of the 21^st century. 

·        Pompeo Hails Angola’s effort to root out corruption

 United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  is in Angola as a part of his visit to Africa to build bridges between the US and Africa, which is touted as the happening continent of the 21^st century.

In Angola, Pompeo will meet with President Joao Lourenco, who is making strides against corruption, including actions against close relatives of the former leader. It is a paradox tha the oil rich Angola is steeply embedded in poverty destitution thanks to the corruption and highhandedness of the earlier rulers, who had stashed away billions of dollars to various destinations illegally.

After this, Pompeo will head toward Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous nation with more than 100 million people and importantly the headquarters of the African Union. Ethiopia, a key U.S. security ally in the Horn of Africa, has undergone dramatic political reforms recently. The shunning of repressive measures by him  is being exploited by some with long-held grievances. This has also led to  violent ethnic tensions that threaten a national election later this year.

Africa’s second most populous country and a key U.S. security ally in the Horn of Africa region, Ethiopia  is also under pressure from the U.S. to reach an agreement with Egypt on the massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.  Ethiopia says the dam is crucial to pull its people out of poverty. On the other hand, Egypt apprehends that  the dam would choke the flow of water from Nile to its cultivating hubs and households, whose 90% of the water needs are met through the waters of Nile. The US is insisting that three countries involved –Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan- should find a solution to the vexatious problem through healthy dialogues.  The US has agreed to act as a facilitator for arriving at a solution at the earliest. But so far, a negotiated settlement remains in a limbo.

While in Angola, Pompeo lauded Angolan President Joao Lourenco’s anti-corruption drive. Last month, Angola indicted Isabel dos Santos, the 46-year-old billionaire daughter of ex-president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, for a host of top-level financial irregularities, such as  money laundering and influence peddling.