Guess Who Wasn’t Invited? : Unbelievable gaffe over Africa conference

The White House conference on Africa that will begin Sunday looks to be a public relations disaster before it has even begun. Predictably, damage control is under way, but this is one gaffe that the Clinton Administration probably won’t be allowed to forget.

The incredible story goes like this: You’re the White House and you want to put together and host a conference to elevate Africa to the top tier of concern in the United States. Such conferences typically focus a media spotlight on key issues and encourage national dialogue. And Africa could certainly benefit from more international attention. Great cause, but whom do you fail to invite until far too late? The members of the Congressional Black Caucus, a powerful voting bloc.

Yes, most were not invited until the last minute--almost as an afterthought. The very leaders who pay such close attention to Africa and are among the United States’ foremost champions of Africa.

Because of the lack of formal invitations and the eleventh-hour telephone calls asking them to participate, many of the members of the 40-member bloc (whose votes President Clinton needs for such legislation as the crime bill) are threatening to skip the two-day session.

Others are staying away because they wish to underscore their opposition to the Administration’s plodding policy on Africa and particularly the slow movement in Rwanda’s crisis. Still others are claiming prior commitments. Eventually some of those who say they won’t attend may show up. Secretary of State Warren Christopher insists many will attend. But there’s no denying that feelings have been hurt.

The invitations foul-up notwithstanding, why the short notice of the conference? Such White House meetings typically are announced months in advance. The Africa conference was announced only Wednesday, just days before more than 100 experts and others will gather.

Tellingly, Black Caucus members aren’t the only prominent African Americans angry over how the Administration has handled the Africa meeting. Randall Robinson, the director of TransAfrica, a respected lobbying group for Africa and the Caribbean, will also boycott the sessions. Robinson, who’s angry about U.S. policy on Haiti and who is greatly respected for his historic direction of the national anti-apartheid movement against South Africa, carries weight among African Americans and many liberal Democrats, two constituencies President Clinton cannot afford to take for granted.

The Clinton team has been in the White House long enough to get the hang of how things work in Washington--politically at least. There’s no excuse for this debacle.