Deputy Foreign Minister Worries About Bush

President-elect Bush's appointment of two blacks to senior foreign policy positions has done little to assuage fear that his administration will ignore Africa.

Over the weekend, Bush named Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) to run his National Security Council and retired Gen. Colin Powell (news - web sites) as secretary of state.

Ghana's deputy foreign minister, Joseph Ahwa Laryea, called the appointments ``an honor and great relief for the black race. However, we'll like to see whether it is not cosmetic or symbolic.''

Others focused on Bush's statement during one of the presidential debates that Africa would not be a foreign policy priority in his administration.

The Sowetan, South Africa's largest black newspaper, did not even report on the appointments of Rice, a Russia specialist, and Powell, a hero of the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

The East African press also ignored the appointments, predicting that Africa will suffer ``benign neglect'' under the new Bush administration.

Regardless of the race of his appointees, Bush has a long way to go to overcome perceptions that Republicans are insensitive to Africans, others said.

``It is all just a matter of Bush seeking to add a color splash to his Cabinet,'' Nigerian businessman Tunde Asaju said in Abuja. ``He does not understand Africa. So can his appointments affect Africa positively?''

Dr. Stanley Macebuh, an aide to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, said Africa should abandon hopes of close ties with a Bush administration.

``Even the appointment of Colin Powell, a black American, as secretary of state, is nothing to cheer about,'' Macebuh said, adding he felt Powell was ``anti-Africa.''

Patricia de Lille, an outspoken member of South Africa's Parliament with the opposition Pan African Congress, said the race of the appointees was meaningless.

``We mustn't see American foreign policy as blacks having to deal with blacks in Africa,'' she said. ``The policy of the United States will determine its relationship to Africa, not individuals.''