August 7 marks the eleventh anniversary of the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Hundreds were killed and thousands injured in the bombings linked to al Qaeda.

In a White House statement, President Obama said, “These attacks in East Africa are sad examples of al Qaeda’s determination to kill innocent men, women and children in many countries, regardless of their religion, race, or nationality. The memory of the attacks in Kenya and Tanzania remind us that we must always be vigilant in working with our allies to bring these terrorists to justice; to prevent these types of attacks from happening again; and to advance peace and security for Americans, Kenyans, Tanzanians, and people around the world.”

Secretary Clinton, currently traveling through Africa, spoke at a memorial for these victims. For more, see “Clinton Pays Tribute at Embassy Bombing Memorial.”

President Obama addressed participants of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Nairobi, Kenya August 5 via video. “I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world,” he told the group.

“In our global economy, our economic fortunes are shared,” he said. AGOA has transformed U.S.-African trade relations by opening new markets and providing incentives for entrepreneurs, Obama said.

“I hope you’re enjoying Kenya — and the hospitality of the Kenyan people — as much as I always have,” the president said. Obama, whose father is from Kenya, has visited the country a couple of times, most recently when he was a senator.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke at AGOA. For more, see “Clinton Says United States Believes in Africa’s Promise.”

The White House is heavily publicizing President Obama’s upcoming speech in Ghana July 11, both on the White House Web site, and on Facebook. This speech is important because it will set the tone for the administration’s policy toward Africa in the coming years, the White House says.

The administration is also providing a list of resources for how you can follow the speech on Twitter, via SMS or radio. Of course, America.gov will also be highlighting this speech on its Facebook and Twitter pages. And we’ll be talking about it right here on the blog.

What should be the Obama administration’s policy toward Africa?