Sec. 214. Strengthening diplomatic efforts in Africa
565 words·~3 min read·
/bill/118/s/5491/is/section-214A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan to strengthen United States diplomatic presence in Africa, including to ensure that United States embassies in Africa have sufficient personnel to focus on the activities, policies, and investments of the PRC. The plan required under subsection
(a)shall include the following elements: A review of the incentives available for United States diplomatic personnel who serve in posts in Africa, which includes proposals to provide additional incentives for hard-to-fill posts in Africa, including those that leverage relevant talent in the Department, including talent within the civil service, and which addresses requirements for promotions and onward assignment for the Foreign Service. An identification of— the number and average duration over the last 5 years of vacancies in the political and economic sections of United States embassies relative to the full-time equivalent positions allocated for the economic and political sections in such embassies; and the number of Foreign Service Officers who are working in stretch positions in the political and economic sections of United States embassies in Africa and a list of proposals to reduce those vacancies and stretch positions. An assessment of whether United States embassies in Africa have adequate staff to implement initiatives such as Prosper Africa and those emanating from the African Leaders Summit and a proposal to better meet the staffing needs to implement those and other high-priority initiatives. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the President shall convene a United States-Africa Leaders Summit (in this subsection referred to as the Summit ) in order to establish stronger bilateral and multilateral diplomatic, economic, security, and cultural ties between the United States and African countries. Each Summit convened pursuant to this subsection shall have participation, including in meetings with United States officials, from— leaders of civilian-led governments of African countries in good standing with the African Union, each of which the President has determined— has held a credible election associated with the current head of government or state; or is the head of a transitional government, is implementing a roadmap to hold credible elections, and is unaffiliated with actions that were related to an unconstitutional change of administration; and civil society from each of the African countries represented at the Summit. The Secretary of State shall establish a dedicated unit within the Bureau of African Affairs of the Department of State to coordinate, plan, and implement the Summit on a biennial basis, which should include robust interagency consultation and may include, on a temporary basis, personnel seconded from the United States Agency for International Development and other Federal agencies as appropriate, and which shall be led by an individual who has previously been appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The unit established under this paragraph shall— use lessons learned from the 2022 African Leaders Summit and subsequent Summits to inform planning of future Summits; lead interagency efforts to provide guidance to United States embassies in African countries related to planning each Summit and engagement with governments and civil society in advance of each Summit; lead efforts to implement commitments made at previous Summits; and consult regularly with the appropriate committees of Congress on the planning in advance of, and follow-up for, each Summit.