One of the values I place on MCC compacts, threshold compacts and then full compacts, is it requires transparency, commitment to democracy, commitment to certain sort of core principles.

I have urged them to take the model of skills transfer, technology transfer, and investment.

There is a longstanding partnership program between the U.S. National Guard of specific States and specific countries.

But I think the true test of friendship and partnership are are you there when things are not going well.

It is helping them to develop the northern part of their own country.

It seems to me that we need to help them with their security response to Boko Haram.

Ethiopia has played a central role in bringing stability to Somalia.

moving toward another round of credible, transparent elections is a vital part of the steady progress toward a sustainable democracy.

I think to the extent that the situation at home permits them to do that we need to encourage them to keep up that proud history.

The strength of the Electoral Commission was particularly vital.

I think we more or less said the right things at the right moments, but I remain very attuned to that.

I have had a number of heads of state comment directly, pointedly, to me that they feel the absence of an American investment in that kind of continent-wide convening.

We have to look broadly at all of our activities, the activities that relate to Treasury, the activities that relate to governance.

Ethiopia has been particularly constructive in the Sudan-South Sudan conflict.

I think Nigeria is a country, as you mentioned in your opening, of enormous opportunity for us.

I appreciate the sentiment. I do at times think we are in competition.

I believe we can and should do much more to promote direct investment and trade with Africa.

I think that the Congo has a really great opportunity in 2016 to show and start establishing a legacy of smooth transitions.