US Ambassador Christopher J. Lamora made a bold statement at the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC) during a lively Q&A session with students. "To put it simply - Africa matters," he proclaimed, highlighting the US's commitment to working with African governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to achieve breakthroughs in medicine and climate change.
Ambassador Lamora praised Africa's amazing innovations in technology, entrepreneurship, and other 21st-century industries, emphasizing the continent's importance as the birthplace of humanity. "Even though over thousands of millennia our species has expanded throughout the world, our collective future will also be shaped right here," he stated.
The US has been engaged in Africa and Cameroon for decades, as evidenced by initiatives such as the US Africa Leaders' Summit, which strengthened ties between governments and laid the groundwork for new business relationships. The ambassador emphasized that the US is committed to responding to urgent events such as pandemics and refugee crises and investing in Africa's human capital and institutions to promote shared goals in peace, security, and prosperity.
Ambassador Lamora also praised Cameroon's dedication in handling terrorism, stating that the country plays a key role in regional stability and remains the US's strongest regional partner in countering terrorism in the Lake Chad region. He revealed that the US has been assisting the Cameroonian military in building its capacity to counter ISIS-West Africa and Boko Haram.
The US is the largest single-country donor of humanitarian assistance in Cameroon, providing food,water, shelter, and services for vulnerable populations, including refugees and internally displaced persons. The ambassador also highlighted the tremendous progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS through the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), with over 350 billion francs CFA invested in Cameroon.
As part of its contribution to the promotion of economic growth and two-way trade investment in Africa, the US Embassy team will accompany 40 Cameroonian businesspeople to the International Franchise Expo in New York. The US will also sponsor training and exchange programs to develop the next generation of Cameroonian entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Over the past 65 years, more than 2,000 Cameroonians have benefited from US government-sponsored exchange programs. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Peace Corps Cameroon, which has seen over 3,800 volunteers come to Cameroon since 1962.
In conclusion, Ambassador Lamora expressed the US's unwavering commitment to Africa and Cameroon's growth and development. "Our cooperation with the government, NGOs, private sector, and civil society spans all 10 regions," he said. "This longstanding partnership also laid a critical foundation that helped Cameroon prepare and respond to other pandemics, including COVID-19." The US's engagement with Africa, and Cameroon in particular, remains steadfast.
Sa'ah Siona Ikei, The Post Newspaper.
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