Editor's note: The following article, by the U.S. Department of State, is provided for public awareness of U.S. policy in Africa. As a military organization, U.S. Africa Command does not lead U.S. foreign policy but instead supports policies articulated by elected civilian leaders. The top U.S. diplomat to Africa says he has stressed to Nigerian leaders the importance of a credible 2011 election and urged the country to make electoral reform one of its highest priorities to allow a peaceful transition in line with democratic principles. In his February 23 prepared testimony to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson said he met with acting President Goodluck Jonathan during his visit to the country earlier in February. Carson said Jonathan's designation as acting president by the Nigerian National Assembly in light of President Umaru Yar'Adua's continuing medical absence has demonstrated Nigeria's resolve "to find a path forward consistent with its constitution and in line with democratic principles" despite the political vacuum. "We commend the commitment of all elements of Nigerian society to constitutional process and the rule of law," Carson said. "We will continue to support the Nigerian people as they work through their democratic institutions to resolve the challenges facing their great nation." The assistant secretary said that while in Nigeria, he met with a broad spectrum of political, religious and civil society leaders, and discussed improvements on governance, efforts against corruption, violent extremism, as well as Nigeria's national elections, which are scheduled for April 2011. The 2011 vote "must be credible," Carson said. Nigeria "cannot afford a repeat" of its 2007 elections, which he said were "marred by poor organization, widespread fraud and numerous incidents of voter intimidation and violence resulting in the deaths of more than 300 people." Elections held February 6 in Nigeria's Anambra state, while deemed credible, suffered from "poor logistics and administration," with only a 16 percent voter turnout, Carson said. "This is one area where the Independent National Electoral Commission, which is in need of improved leadership, must do better," he said. The United States has been supporting electoral reform in the country by printing out Electoral Reform Commission recommendations for distribution by Nigerian organizations, as well as by organizing symposiums, seminars and other activities on the issue. "We are prepared to provide technical assistance to Nigeria's election commission provided they demonstrate a willingness to fulfill their primary role of strengthening election administration," Carson said. Along with encouraging electoral reform, Carson warned that "endemic corruption" has been a major factor in preventing U.S. private-sector investment, and that poor governance has played an even greater role in the disconnect between the country's wealth in natural resources, as Africa's largest oil producer, and the poverty of its people. "There can be little progress in reducing child mortality, fighting poverty, creating jobs and improving the business climate without improved governance," he said. Carson said Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction at being included on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's "Countries of Interest" list in the wake of violence within its borders and the attempt by a Nigerian national to detonate a bomb on board a U.S.-bound jet on December 25, 2009. "Nigerians perceive this as collective punishment for the actions of a wayward son, when in fact they shared our outrage at the attack and have been providing assistance to the ongoing investigation," he said. "Let me be clear, our friendship and relationship with Nigeria is strong and continues to be based on a wide range of important bilateral issues," Carson said. Condemning the "chronic politically motivated, inter-religious violence" in the Nigerian state of Plateau, Carson urged all sides to "address the hostility between religious and ethnic groups and bring perpetrators of such acts to justice." The tensions in northern Nigeria "have religious overtones and are perceived by outsiders as fighting between Christians and Muslims," he said. But "the real conflict is one of politics," and he urged Nigerian political leaders to recognize this and work with national religious leaders to promote a dialogue to peacefully resolve the issues.