Africa: Mixed Reactions as Obama Visits Continent
By George Okore
President Barrack Obama’s upcoming trip to Africa is intended to signal to African governments and citizens that US is prepared to re-engage with Africa but also punctuated with interesting sideshows.
From the new administration in Kenya feeling snubbed, by Obama refusing to visit the birthplace of his father, frustrations boils to South Africa where civil society groups have rejected the visit based on US arrogant, selfish and oppressive foreign policies, treatment of workers and international trade relations.
Consequently, South Africans have organized a National Day of Action on June 28, with a primary event taking place in the form of a protest march from Union Building to US Embassy in Pretoria. They accuse US government of war mongering, neo-liberal super-exploitation, colonial racism and the disregard and destruction of the environment, thus making realization of a just and peaceful world impossible.
The protests has been organized by South African Communist Party (SACP), Young Communist League of South Africa (YCL), South African Students Congress (SASCO), Muslim Students Association (MSA), National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Friend of Cuba Society (FOCUS), Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in South Africa (BDS South African), and World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).
The organizers say Washington policies on the environment, specifically the fact that it is one of the largest contributors to global warming, yet to this day continues to refuse observe and sing the Kyoto protocol, is simply unacceptable. Lucian Segami from National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), says America is deeply implicated in the oppression of the people of Western Sahara, the only remaining colonised country in Africa, colonized by Morocco.
Protests aside, it is noteworthy Obama assumed office amidst of global economic crisis, domestic economic meltdown, Congress that was much more inward-looking, that had generally been very supportive of Africa initiatives. On a positive note, President Obama came to office with big expectations, with euphoric celebrations in Africa over his election as the first African-American president who had travelled to Africa, who had African ancestry.
It came on the heels of a decade of really accelerating momentum on Africa policy beginning with the Clinton administration’s high-profile trips, the – Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. Obama predecessor George Bush exceeded all expectations and making Sudan an immediate priority when he came into office, then launching the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – PEPFAR, $15 billion initiative which focused mostly in Africa, Africa Command and two high-profile trips.
J. Steven Morrison- Director for Global Health Policy Center at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) says as newly elected Senator, Obama visited Africa in August 2006 and spoke against corruption and ethnic divisions in Kenya. He and Michelle took a public HIV test while there to counter stigma and even visited Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi.
Under Obama, Africa has achieved some successes including commitments on the big global health – on the global health initiatives. There were some diplomatic successes early on in Côte d’Ivoire, in Guinea, in getting Sudan to the – to the referendum for the Southern Sudanese independence. In Kenya, US was an important ally in negotiated the bloody post 2007 elections violence.
Richard Downie -Deputy Director and Fellow, Africa Program at CSIS argues that the trip later this week will spur U.S economic engagement with Africa, getting a broader swath of U.S. private sector interested and educated on the opportunities in Africa. The tour is also expected to address obstacles to investment and sustained growth in Africa. President Obama will also echo US concerns on accountable governments, democracy and governance. “A major announcement is expected in Tanzania on strengthening – on partnerships for power generation and distribution. Electrification in Africa has been one of the primary stumbling blocks to investment and to sustained economic growth,” he argues.
Another purpose of the trip is the monster called China, which has made successful foray in many African countries. China has a mixed record in Africa but gets criticized for kind of lack of transparency, bringing its own workers, bringing its own materials, not engaging with the communities around them. The president will want to make that distinction of why the U.S. is a good partner in this regard.