Obama Strips Mali, Guinea-Bissau Of Trade Benefits

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Obama Strips Mali, Guinea-Bissau Of Trade Benefits

Thursday, 20 December 2012 23:49

(AFP) – US President Barack Obama on Thursday stripped Mali and Guinea-Bissau of their US trade privileges, citing backtracking from democracy in the two countries.

In an annual assessment of benefits conferred by the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) program, Obama added the fledgling nation of South Sudan to the list of African nations enjoying preferential trade treatment.

Both Mali and Guinea-Bissau were hit by coups in the last year.

US officials said Guinea-Bissau suffers from systemic corruption, and is an epicenter for drugs and light arms trafficking by criminal syndicates. Several major donors have suspended projects or pulled funding this year.
African port

US President Barack Obama stripe Mali and Guinea-Bissau of their US trade privileges (Photo: AFP)
After the coup in Mali, foreign donors were also scared away, and Washington halted foreign assistance, apart from humanitarian aid and support for democracy programs.

The White House said that South Sudan had made measurable progress despite many development challenges in the last year, especially in resolving political economic and security issues with Sudan.

"Making South Sudan eligible for benefits under AGOA could help support this new nation's development," said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor.

AGOA, signed into law in 2000, offers incentives for sub-Saharan African nations to develop free markets, open economies and accountable political systems.

It allows preferential access to imports from concerned countries and access to US credit and expertise.

Comments

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+7 #36 2012-12-28 13:39

Please do not refer to my Gambian friends as scum.

You may call me what you like.

It bothers me little.

Switch off your mind, relax and float down stream.

You may one day reach the sea of humanity?

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-8 #35 2012-12-28 03:58

Mike Scales,
This cracker-ass response will perhaps work with your scum-like fellows, not me. It looks like having a conversation with you is like having a conversation with a dinning table. I won't waste my time, shrimp!

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+8 #34 2012-12-27 23:30

I'm flattered by your interest sir. Well you asked about my education.

I had a choice to become a Lawyer or a factory worker. But to become a lawyer I had to answer too many questions to get a pass.

So I became a factory worker. There they only wanted to know my name.

I got 75% of that right.

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-11 #33 2012-12-27 20:22

Mike Scales

Since you started this, let's go! First you dodged my question: Are you the same Michael Scales on Freedomnewspape r? If so, why do you delve into Gambian issues uninvited? And don't be this cowardly, write to me directly! You'd surely put your tail between your legs!

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+13 #32 2012-12-26 14:12

Listen to B4 Africa...

His truth is my truth.

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+13 #31 2012-12-26 14:08

Quoting Radiokangkang:

may ALLAH,the almighty continue to protect us from all EVILS, AMEEN.

Especially those evils you support at your own doorsteps who illegal and secretely kill your own people and refuse to give their families the bodies.

May Allah help to cure your mind from your ignorance and help to cure your heart from your heatless atittudes so that together we can build a Gambia free from a dictatorship.

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+12 #30 2012-12-26 14:06

Quoting Gambiano:

In todays world, you either use your brain, or let others use it for you.

And dictator jammeh and his bandits are not using their good brains.
There are good brains and evils brains.
It is better to use your good brain to aviod hurting yourself and the people around you.

It is better to use your good brain and tell your truth or someone will use the good brain to tell your truth for you.

People with evil brains can change their colours/names to deceive themselves but they cannot deceive/change the TRUTH.

The truth always remain as the truth and it will always prevail to set us all free.

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+10 #29 2012-12-26 14:02

Merry Christmas Kang Kang.

Congratulations on the French Connection.

Thats ACE.

Kang Kang dances the can can Ooo lah lah.

Theres a song that goes something like this;

"How you gonna keep them down on the farm..Now that they've seen Paris" {Parree}

Sankanu will be able to do some reality TV shows direct from Mile 2.

The Gambian version of....

"I'm a celebrity get me out of here"

Direct from the crocodile room.

Mai Fatty reckons..your economy is held together by the tax payers money from the US and the EU.

Viva la World Bank and IMF.

You'll be able to experience British culture..through such educational programmes as Coronation street,
East enders and Emmerdale.

Are you ready for all these
"Western delights "?

Is Mr Jammeh promoting..

En taunt cordial ?

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-12 #28 2012-12-25 23:09

I paid for my education through out. I've never received a drachma in student loans. You probably have. I don't know any Barclay bank. Sounds foreign to me. If you're looking for a dialectic, trust me, you'll soon run away.

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-14 #27 2012-12-25 23:06

Quoting Mike Scales:

Wot a load of xenaphobic codswallop.

wassup boys..Did Barclays Bank knock your student loan application?

First of all, Mike Scales, are you the same guy fluttering wings on Gambian issues, usually with that cartoon face of yours? If you're the same guy on Gambian sites, I'm going to be your answer.

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