The United States President, Joe Biden, has announced the removal of Uganda, the Central African Republic, Gabon, and Niger from the list of beneficiaries of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This decision comes as a response to concerns about these countries’ failure to meet AGOA’s eligibility requirements, particularly in relation to human rights violations and democratic progress.
AGOA, initiated by the U.S. in 2000, provides eligible sub-Saharan African nations with duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products. However, President Biden, in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, expressed concerns regarding “gross violations” of human rights or the lack of progress towards democratic governance in these four African countries.
The two countries, Niger and Gabon, have faced political instability and military rule due to coups earlier this year. As a result, they are considered ineligible for AGOA benefits because they have not demonstrated sufficient progress in establishing political pluralism and the rule of law.
In the case of the Central African Republic and Uganda, their removal from AGOA stems from concerns about the governments’ “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.” This move reinforces the significance of meeting human rights and democratic governance criteria for maintaining eligibility under AGOA.
The decision reflects the United States’ commitment to upholding its core values of human rights and democracy, ensuring that AGOA benefits are extended to countries that align with these principles.