by Alvin Singh II
United States President Barack Obama is visiting Africa for the second time as a head of state. His first visit in 2009 was the first time an American president toured Africa in their first year term and in 2011 First Lady Michelle Obama visited Botswana and South Africa with her mother and their two daughters. The political landscape of Africa has changed drastically and a lot has happened since Obama’s historical victory in 2008.
Northern Africa has witnessed regime changes in four countries, widespread Egyptian protesters dethroned Mubarak’s government, a revolution in 2011 overthrowing autocratic president Zine El Abidine Ben lead to the country’s first free elections and civil war brought the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule. After a military coup in January 2012, Mali has scheduled elections for July 7th in response to armed conflicts led by rebels declaring secession of a new state. On the anniversary of September 11, U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed in Libya in a surprise attack on an American Benghazi consulate. During these challenging times the African continent has risen as an economic market and strategic partner in global development.
Obama’s first stop was Senegal, which amidst controversy in its recent presidential elections of 2012 was praised for a peaceful concession after former President Abdoulaye Wade acknowledge defeat through a run-off election. As a mature democracy Senegal has proved that learning to agree to disagree is a safer process than civil war. When the incumbent president wanted to change the constitution in his favor for re-election millions of voters turned out in large crowds to cast their vote against it. His second stop was South Africa, the most industrialized economy in Africa and a long-standing partner in U.S.-Africa trade relations. Hosting a televised town hall meeting with African youth, Obama responded to questions from across the continent about issues ranging education, entrepreneurship, agriculture and why he didn’t visit Kenya during his African tour. The final stop was Tanzania, another growing economy that has been on the Chinese governments radar as a partner in natural resources and infrastructure projects. First Lady Michelle Obama also attended a First Ladies Summit hosted by the George W. Bush Institute titled Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa along with Laura Bush and other African First Ladies.
It’s clear that this tour was about business despite some mainstream media referencing it as an expensive family vacation. Many stereotypes about Africa have overshadowed the business world’s perspective of the continent as being a place where famine, conflict and health epidemics exist not a place for trade, investment or marketing. With other emerging markets doubling their investments, America has to pay attention to Africa and follow with a different approach.
The White House’s African strategy has four objective which include; 1) strengthening democratic institutions 2) spur economic growth, trade and investment 3) advance peace and security 4) promote opportunity ands development and 5)
SENEGAL
The coastal country in West Africa is not the first time an American president has visited. Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush visited during their terms in office. This time Obama began with a bilateral meeting with the President of Senegal followed by a joint press conference.
At the conference Obama spoke about African leaders expanding equal rights for gays and lesbians yet was blatantly rebuttal by Senegal’s president, who replied that his country “still isn’t ready” to decriminalize homosexuality. Which is a sticky topic across the continent with the opening of his 8 day trip followed by the U.S. Supreme Court decision to extend federal benefits for married gay couples. In his first comments since the decision he pressed for identical recognitions for gays in Africa, which was a risky defense in a region where 4 countries punish homosexuality with death sentences.
“When it comes to how the state treats people, how the law treats people, I believe that everybody has to be treated equally,” Obama said during a news conference with Senegalese President Macky Sall at the grand presidential palace in Dakar.
President Sall responded by saying countries make decisions on complex issues in their own stages, giving example that Senegal has outlawed capital punishment while other countries have not – a pointed jab at the U.S., where the death penalty is legal in many states.
“I’m making this visit to Africa because, as I’ve said before, I see this as a moment of great progress and great promise for the continent. It’s true that Africa faces great challenges, and meeting these challenges together is a focus of my trip. But all too often the world overlooks the amazing progress that Africa is making, including progress in strengthening democracy”, said Obama at a joint press conference.
One of the other highlights during his time in Senegal was a visit to the transatlantic slave castle on Goree Island. Just two miles off the coast of Senegal, the tiny island has been ruled by many nationalities in its long history. In 1444 Portuguese sailors were the first Europeans to visit driving out the local population and building it as a center trade route for human trafficking were many of the buildings still stand today.
“Obviously, for an African-American, an African-American president, to be able to visit this site, I think, gives me even greater motivation in terms of human rights around the world”, Obama said after visiting the “door of no return.”
SOUTH AFRICA
In the shadows of Nelson Mandela’s critical health conditions, the South African government welcomed the 44th President of the United States with a full agenda. His last visit to South Africa was in 2006 when he was a Senator looking to gain international credibility before announcing a bid for the U.S. presidential candidacy.
This time he came to discuss U.S.- Africa trade relations, health initiatives and host a town hall-style meeting in Soweto aimed at a youth audience with a live stream dialogue for audiences in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. The discussion gave a relaxed Obama the opportunity to spread the message to Africa’s youth that development across the continent was rapid and that partners from other nations including China, India or Brazil is good for the people of Africa. “If someone says they want to come and build something here, are they hiring African workers? Somebody says they want to help develop your natural resources, how much of the money is staying here?”, said Obama. Although the US remains one of South Africa’s biggest trading partners, with 600 US companies China remains Africa’s largest single investor.
On his final day in South Africa the First Family flew to Cape Town and visited Robben Island to pay tribute to the prison turned museum where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years incarcerated during the anti-apartheid movement.
Following his visit, the President visited a community center with Archbishop Desmond Tutu that focuses on combating preventable diseases and HIV/AIDS. After visiting the community center the President gave a speech at the University of Cape Town focusing on security and trade investments across the African continent.
TANZANIA
On Monday the First family arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania which remains a strategic partner in East Africa. The President will spend the remaining days of his trip in Tanzania visiting a power plant as part of a new initiative to invest billions into Africa’s energy sector. Following the President are over 200 businessman and women who are attending an International Trade fair. The atmosphere is business and many companies are coming to see on the ground how they can open new trade partnerships with one of the world’s fast growing countries.
Before returning to America the footprint left by the Obama’s will be larger than before. The celebrations will fade away and the expectations will continue to linger as millions of African’s continue live below the poverty line and millions more enter the middle class. Only time will prove whether his visit was a normal meet and greet or a successful trade tour that could provide opportunities and market access for both sides of the ocean.
