Obama says US will help Africa set up peacekeeping force Closing a summit with 50 African countries in Washington, Barack Obama announces the US will help African nations set up a rapid response force to support United Nations and African Union peacekeeping missions. The US President also pleads for the extension of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, says the Ebola virus 'can be controlled', and calls for the release of three Al-Jazeera journalists sentenced to prison in Egypt. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES.