This article explores the lasting impact of Jimmy Carter's presidency on Africa, highlighting his historic state visit, commitment to development projects, and efforts to foster diplomatic relationships.
Jimmy Carter was the first U.S. president to make a state visit to sub-Saharan Africa. He once said that aiding Zimbabwe's transition from white rule to independence was 'our single greatest success.' And when he died at 100, the work of his foundation in rural Africa had nearly completed its mission of eliminating a disease that affected millions, for the first time since the eradication of smallpox.
The African continent, a burgeoning region with a population rivaling that of China and expected to double by 2050, is where Carter's legacy remains most evident. Until his presidency, U.S. leaders had shown little interest in Africa, even as independence movements swept the region in the 1960s and 1970s. 'I believe the day of the American ugly call is over,' Carter said during his warm reception in 1978 in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country. He asserted that the official visit left behind 'America's previous indifference,' and joked that he and Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo would together dedicate themselves to cultivating peanuts. The tensions of the Cold War drew Carter's attention to the continent as the United States and the Soviet Union competed for influence. But Carter was also inspired by the missionary traditions of his Baptist faith and the racial injustice he witnessed in his native Southern United States. 'For too long our country has ignored Africa,' Carter told the Democratic National Committee in his first year as president. Soon, African leaders received invitations to the White House, intrigued by the sudden interest of the world's most powerful nation and what it might mean for them. 'There is an air of freshness that is invigorating,' said Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda during his visit
JIMMY CARTER AFRICA FOREIGN POLICY LEGACY DEVELOPMENT
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