The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, spoke about U.S. policy in Africa Friday as part of UW-Madison's ""Peace Corps and Africa: 50 Years"" event, which aimed to honor and evaluate the last half-century of volunteer service.
Carson spoke of his own time in the Peace Corps in Tanzania from 1965 to 1968 and how it helped prepare him for his current role as a leader of African affairs.
""The Peace Corps plays an integral part in lives of Africans,"" Carson said. ""The experience in working in communities without basic amenities made us more understanding to the everyday challenges the Africans face.""
Carson said there is much progress to be made as many African countries focus on key issues like stabilizing democracy and maintaining public health. Carson and the Bureau of African Affairs facilitate U.S. actions in various African countries, which Carson said is not an easy task, but needs to be done.
The bureau has assisted African nations in solving conflicts such as helping to facilitating an independence referendum in Southern Sudan and intervening to end violent conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to Carson.
Highlighting current conflicts such as those in Libya and Ivory Coast, Carson emphasized the importance of the U.S. exercising caution when choosing to intervene.
""Quick fixes that do not have broad African support can often make matters worse,"" Carson said.
Carson also encouraged the audience to follow news events in Africa and mentioned UW-Madison as a leader in educating people on African studies through the university's African studies program.
Carson, whose main role is to advise Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on sub-Saharan Africa, was appointed by President Barack Obama and said he is hopeful that Clinton and Obama will visit Africa by the end of the year.
""We will continue to work with the African Union and UN to face challenges ahead while collaborating on great opportunities that already exist,"" Carson said.
