United States President Barack
Obama will be visiting Nigeria, Kenya and some other African countries before
the end of July, this year if the information from the Presidential travel
trends is anything to go by.
Obama will be visiting Nigeria, Kenya and some other African countries before
the end of July, this year if the information from the Presidential travel
trends is anything to go by.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan and other
Africa’s leaders have been some of Barack Obama’s fiercest critics, and alleged
that he had not prioritised the continent since he became the US president in
January, 2009.
Africa’s leaders have been some of Barack Obama’s fiercest critics, and alleged
that he had not prioritised the continent since he became the US president in
January, 2009.
During his first term in office, President Obama’s only visit to
sub-Saharan Africa as president was a stopover of less than 24 hours in Ghana
out of the 51 country visits he made.
sub-Saharan Africa as president was a stopover of less than 24 hours in Ghana
out of the 51 country visits he made.
Reacting to this, Laura Seay, an Assistant Professor of
Political Science at Morehouse College, said that Africa was a low priority for
most American presidents because of geopolitical interests and historical ties,
“and that was the case in the Obama administration.” She added, though, Africa
is becoming more important to U.S. foreign policy interests.
Though Obama’s National Security Adviser said in November that
the president’s time in the White House was his most valuable resource,
analysts insisted that Obama’s lack of time in Africa reflected compelling
global priorities, not a lack of importance for Africa.
the president’s time in the White House was his most valuable resource,
analysts insisted that Obama’s lack of time in Africa reflected compelling
global priorities, not a lack of importance for Africa.
A review of presidential travel shows Europe and North America
got the most visits during the Carter-to-Obama period. France led with 24
visits; the U.K. had 23; Canada and Germany had 20; Mexico and Italy had 19.
got the most visits during the Carter-to-Obama period. France led with 24
visits; the U.K. had 23; Canada and Germany had 20; Mexico and Italy had 19.
African Leaders believe that President Obama was yet to fully
compliment the efforts of Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton who have made
Africa a diplomatic priority in Obama’s first term, visiting 23 out of the 54
countries in the continent.
compliment the efforts of Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton who have made
Africa a diplomatic priority in Obama’s first term, visiting 23 out of the 54
countries in the continent.
According to a US Presidential historian, Obama is likely to
spend more time in Africa in his second term, freed of domestic campaign
politics, second-term presidents can travel more in a continent that has less
strategic importance than Europe and Asia. A rising terror threat in Mali has also
heightened the region’s profile.
spend more time in Africa in his second term, freed of domestic campaign
politics, second-term presidents can travel more in a continent that has less
strategic importance than Europe and Asia. A rising terror threat in Mali has also
heightened the region’s profile.
US state department officials defended Obama’s record on Africa
and assured foreign journalists at a post-election briefing on US foreign
policy in Chicago that President Obama was planning to embark on an official
visit to Africa in 2013.
and assured foreign journalists at a post-election briefing on US foreign
policy in Chicago that President Obama was planning to embark on an official
visit to Africa in 2013.
According to Elections, and US Foreign Policy Ambassador, John
R. Nay, “President Obama and his strategists were quietly but intensely working
on an official visit to Sub-Saharan Africa that would see him visiting, among
others, South Africa.
R. Nay, “President Obama and his strategists were quietly but intensely working
on an official visit to Sub-Saharan Africa that would see him visiting, among
others, South Africa.
“The relationship with the African continent continues to be
important to president Obama and his administration in general. I expect a far
stronger relationship during his second term in office and some continuous
efforts to work closely with South Africa and many other African countries such
as Nigeria and so on. I am not sure about his schedule but I am sure he will
visit Africa soon,” said Nay, a former US Ambassador to South Africa during
former president Nelson Mandela’s term in office.
important to president Obama and his administration in general. I expect a far
stronger relationship during his second term in office and some continuous
efforts to work closely with South Africa and many other African countries such
as Nigeria and so on. I am not sure about his schedule but I am sure he will
visit Africa soon,” said Nay, a former US Ambassador to South Africa during
former president Nelson Mandela’s term in office.
The White House and State Department declined to comment on
whether Obama would spend more time in Africa. Johnnie Carson, the State
Department’s top Africa official, said this month that the Obama administration
has helped Somalia stabilise and South Sudan gain independence and that the
U.S. had provided more aid to Africa in the last four years than any other
country.
whether Obama would spend more time in Africa. Johnnie Carson, the State
Department’s top Africa official, said this month that the Obama administration
has helped Somalia stabilise and South Sudan gain independence and that the
U.S. had provided more aid to Africa in the last four years than any other
country.
Source: Leadership
