Africa On US “Impact” On The Continent Ahead of Summit

By Staff Writer

A new survey released by ONE, an anti-poverty campaign co-founded by rockers Bono and Bob Geldof, on Monday 4 indicates Africans view security, education and jobs as their biggest areas of concern.

The survey comes few hours before the August 4 to 6 US - African summit of about 50 African head of states held by US President Barack Obama in Washington DC, where deals worth billions of dollars are expected to be closed.

The survey offers insight on priorities for Africans and their attitudes towards the US from nine countries that included Kenya, Uganda, Benin, Tanzania, Ghana, Tunisia, Rwanda, Nigeria and South Africa.

Majority of the 4,500 respondents believe that the US has had some impact on their country and community; they think the world's richest nation has been slow coming to the party of an economically rising Africa.

The exercise was conducted over a five days period at the end of July 2014 surveying 500 people in each country, with average age of respondent about 26 years. The margin of error is calculated to be at plus or minus 5.

Majority of respondents interviewed said the United States had "some impact" on their country and community.

In Rwanda, however, 62% of respondents said the United States had a "big impact" on their country, as did 31% in Tanzania, and 37% in Uganda.

When it came to Obama's support, 55% of respondents in Benin were not sure, as were 38% in Ghana, 41% in Rwanda, 47% in South Africa and 48% in Tunisia.

A large chunk of respondents, some 42%, in Nigeria believed Obama had been "very" supportive and 49% in Tunisia thought he had been somewhat supportive.

The poll measured attitudes towards governments and found that a vast majority believe their government had best addressed security issues, followed by education and corruption.

In Kenya, Nigeria and Tunisia, security was the biggest priority, while in Rwanda; it was trade and jobs followed closely by education, security and health. For South African respondents, education and jobs were key areas of concern.

In Benin, 36% of the people surveyed thought their government had best addressed agricultural and corruption issues.

43% of respondents in Kenya, 28% in Tanzania, 34% in Nigeria, and 81% in Rwanda listed security as the area where their government had done a good job.

All respondents felt their governments needed to invest a lot more in agriculture. In Tanzania, however, an overwhelming 56% thought their government should invest a bit more.

In the recent years, the United States influence in Africa has been at a very low with entry of ‘Asian Tiger’, the Peoples Republic of China, who’s ‘No strings attached’, foreign policy has been deemed to be favorable by African leaders.