" The publication looks at the most recent turn in the United States' policy in Africa. The so-called ACRI-African Crisis Response Initiative-defines the new policy outlook that restores the U.S. as the major player in Africa's political games. Backing from local client states combines with military elements and both seem to promise earliest possible intervention in emerging socio-political crises that-if unimpeded-might easily threatened international politics and American global leadership. The author is reader in sociology and co-director of ikoplan, a research network of economics and social science at the University of Paderborn. "

Traditionally, the U.S. military has not been heavily involved in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since the end of the Cold War, though, this has begun to change. U.S. forces have supported several humanitarian relief and evacuation operations associated with African conflicts. They have also conducted numerous "engagement" activities aimed at assisting African states and their militaries during the transition to democracy. But Africa remains a region where U.S. national security interests must be promoted with limited resources. This makes a sophisticated and coherent strategy vitally important. Helping Africans develop a capability to avoid or solve their region's security problems has reemerged recently as an important goal of American strategy, and the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) is its centerpiece. Based on their testimony presented to the Africa Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, this study by Dr. Steven Metz and Colonel Dan Henk of the U.S. Army War College examines the ACRI. Significantly, it does so by placing the ACRI in a wider, long-term strategic context.

Africa's water crisis and the U.S. response: hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, first session, May 16, 2007.

The authors examine the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI). While traditionally, the U.S. military has not been heavily involved in Sub- Saharan Africa, this has begun to change since the end of the Cold War. U.S. forces have supported several humanitarian relief and evacuation operations associated with African conflicts, conducted numerous 'engagement' activities aimed at assisting African states and their militaries during the transition to democracy, and helped Africans develop a capability to avoid or solve their region's security problems. They conclude with recommendations where U.S. national security interests can be promoted with limited resources.

Sub-Saharan Africa has been strongly affected by the global recession, despite initial optimism that the global financial system would have few spillover effects on the continent. Contents of this report: (1) Recent Develop.; (2) Congressional Interest; (3) African Economies; Trends Prior to the Crisis; Develop. Challenges; (4) How the Crisis is Affecting Africa: Internat. Trade: Trade with the U.S., and with China; Capital Flows: Migrant Remittances; Foreign Aid; (5) Implications of the Crisis in Africa; Sub-Regional Variations; Fiscal and Trade Balances; Poverty Reduction; Food Security; Political Stability; (6) Internat. Efforts to Address the Impact of the Crisis on Africa; Developed Countries; Internat. Financial Inst.; World Bank; ADB; IMF; African Gov¿ts.