Africa Thursday Congressional Seminar Series
AAI created Africa Thursday, a series of congressional seminars, to focus high-level attention on issues affecting U.S. policy toward Africa. Inaugurated in 1998, the series is hosted by House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health which chaired by the Honorable Donald M. Payne (D-NJ). Africa Thursday offers informed perspectives from African policymakers and opinion leaders to members of Congress, their staff, administration officials, corporate leaders, and representatives of Africa-focused NGOs.
Past Africa Thursday seminar speakers include: Dr. Cindy L. Courville, U.S. Ambassador to the African Union and former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council; Rosalind Kainyah,Director of Public and Corporate Affairs, De Beers Group, USA; H.E. Lapologang Lekoa, Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to the United States; Florizelle Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa; AAI alumna Professor Wangari Maathai, Deputy Environment Minister Kenya and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; H.E Romain Murenzi, Minister for Education, Science, Technology and Research, The Republic of Rwanda; H.E. Jose Maria Neves, Prime Minister of Cape Verde; Alassane Ouattara, former Managing Director of the IMF; and Sue Saarnio, Special Advisor for Conflict Diamonds, U.S. Department of State.
Past Africa Thursday events have included:
- Diamonds, Conflict and Development in Africa, 2006
- Democracy and Governance: Cape Verde's Vision for the Millennium Challenge Account Grant, 2005
- The African Growth and Opportunity Act: Moving AGOA III Forward in the U.S. Senate, 2004
Visit the full archive of past Africa Thursday events to read about these events and the reports.