and excerpt of questions to James Oporia-Ekwaro from the Centre for Africa Public Policy Studies, and to Alex Vines, a former member of the United Nations panel of experts on Liberia and head of the Africa Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
"President Bush is repeating the same route made by former President Clinton. What is the policy behind this Presidential visit?
James Oporia-Ekwaro:
I think by my rating I would put it this way: 15% towards Africa, 85% mainly towards America. I think the main point about this visit is to play to the audience at home in view of next year's elections.
Duncan Kennedy:
As cynical as that?
James Oporia-Ekwaro:
Yes, I would say so. I take a look at what he has done. We are halfway now through the visit - what is new? The sum of $15 billion is being recycled since May - it's not new. Take the millennium challenge funds and so on - this has been there since March last year. So there has been really no new funding or no new commitments to Africa thus far - I think I can say that quite clearly.
Duncan Kennedy:
Alex do you share that view? We've got a couple of e-mails here saying - one anonymous caller from Egypt has said: why is the USA suddenly interested in Africa?
Do you share that view of James here?
Alex Vines:
Well no - Africa is increasing also it's strategic value to the United States. The three letter word - oil - is important here. The US already had started to try and diversify its oil supplies during the Clinton administration - this is a continuation of that and also you have the war against terrorism. Post September 11, countries in Africa become potentially much more strategic to the USA - the logic being that failing or failed states could be festering grounds for terrorism and that's an important issue for Mr Bush - that overarches every other priority in the Bush administration.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3050916.stm