U.S.-AFRICA LEADERS SUMMIT 2014
(Business. Security. Ebola....and China)
--Attorney Patryk Utulu

The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit 2014, Washington, D.C., kicked off today. Of Africa's 54 (48 continental + 6 island) nations nearly 50 leaders came.

EBOLA: I received tips that the Presidents and delegations from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were given double screening for signs of Ebola virus. Some delegates were upset but they were told in plain language to cooperate or go home. They complained but complied. I am checking the rumors that delegates of the three nations will be re-tested Wednesday.

NIGERIA: President Jonathan was screened once as were other leaders. The U.S. State Dept said that Nigeria's effort to contain Ebola virus has been satisfactory. A crowd of Nigerians showed up in DC to receive Mr Jonathan.

Officially, the summit is about (1) Africa's regional security, (2) Africa's role in global crises, (3) business investments, and (4) democracy building.

NOW, FORGET ALL THAT "OFFICIAL" NONSENSE. HERE ARE THE TWO REASONS FOR THE 2014 U.S.-AFRICA LEADERS SUMMIT:

(1) PRESIDENT OBAMA IS EMBARRASSED. He has paid zero attention to Africa after nearly 6 years in office. African-American leaders were quietly expressing frustration at Mr. Obama's lack of attention to issues affecting Africa. Some African American leaders had started voicing their bitterness publicly. Pres George W. Bush invested $15 billion to fight HIV in Africa; Pres Clinton and The Clinton Global Initiative created entrepreneurial opportunities and affordable drugs for millions of Africans; Pres Jimmy Carter has spent so much time in Africa monitoring elections, raising $billions to fight guinea worm and river blindness that Carter has practically become a native son of Africa.

Therefore, despite the official reasons, the first REAL reason for this Summit is that President Obama is embarrassed and is trying to redeem himself.

(2) FEAR OF CHINA: People like to talk about USA-Russia rivalry. But that is a fiction based on nostalgia or outdated Cold War history. Russia is too small to rival the U.S. OK, Russia is the world's 8th largest economy with GDP of $2.118 Trillion. (But one of America's 50 states, California, is also the world's 8th largest economy with a GDP of $2.050 Trillion). Now, do you see why Russia CANNOT be an economic rival of the USA with a total GDP of $17.295 Trillion?

But China is a different story. China is the world's 2nd largest economy with a GDP of $9.182 Trillion. Economically and consistently it is the fastest growing nation. While Russia is a land-locked nation with outdated nuclear weapons China almost mirrors USA in natural resources: huge landmass and accessible oceans, vibrant economy, young dynamic population and a fast rising military with global ambitions. Thus, China is the only nation that has the potential to truly rival USA at least economically, even if not in the soft power of emulative democracy.

AFRICA: is the the world's fastest growing continent. Africa has the greatest deposit of raw materials. In 2040 Africa will have the world's greatest workforce and by the year 2050 Africa will have the world's youngest populations. in 2013, Africa-China Trade totaled $200 billion while Africa-U.S. Trade totaled a meager $63 billion.

With hundreds of thousands of Chinese all over Africa buying and selling and wearing Ghanaian "kente", eating Nigerian "ewedu" soup and singing South African Bantu songs, the U.S. is truly scared.

Stay tuned for Summit updates...I'll let you know when they re-test the Presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for Ebola.

Patryk A. Utulu is a U.S.-based attorney and Strategic Communications Specialist
Global Defense Analyst and Global Events Commentator
Executive Vice President, Nigerian Diaspora-North America
Executive Director, The Center for Community Empowerment and Lifeskills, Inc.
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I concur with these observations.
Africa is just too timid for it's own good. It's so embarrassing that this black continent can't seem to produce a united front over common issues.

Picture this: What is the worst case scenario that African leaders simply agree to put off attending this summit at this time, make their excuses about pressng domestic issues which requires immediate attention?

America can't help but accept it. Why can't these timid leaders decide to call the shots for once?
The summit can wait. All that high sounding, official horseshyte can wait.....But Ebola cannot wait. Boko Haram, Al Shabab and other terrorists' wanton destruction cannot wait.

Isn't it even pathetic that the presidential "mouthpiece" denied there was any form of screening for ebola?
In a short while, we will get to learn about delegates at the summit who vied to win the trophy of who sleeps the longest, or snores the loudest, during meetings!

Lets face the bitter truth: This summit cannot change or improve nada. Just another of America's self serving piece of political crap.