South Africa awaits Obama on Africa tour
US president's trip to South Africa is likely to be overshadowed by former president Nelson Mandela's ailing health.
Last Modified: 28 Jun 2013 05:43
US President Barack Obama will travel to South Africa after wrapping up a visit to Senegal that focused on improving food security and promoting democratic institutions. With Obama scheduled to arrive in South Africa on Friday evening, his trip is likely to be overshadowed by the ailing health of Nelson Mandela, the 94-year-old former South African president, who is clinging to life in a Pretoria hospital. Before departing the Senegal capital, Dakar, Obama is scheduled to meet with farmers and local entrepreneurs to discuss new technologies that are helping farmers and their families in West Africa, one of the world's poorest and most drought-prone regions. Obama is in the midst of a three country tour of the African continent, including Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. 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. Asked on Thursday whether Obama would be able to pay Mandela a visit, the White House said that was up to the Mandela family. "We are going to completely defer to the wishes of the Mandela family and work with the South African government as relates to our visit," deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters in Senegal. The US president is scheduled to visit Robben Island, where Mandela spent years in prison, later during his trip. Speaking to journalists in Dakar on Thursday, Obama hit out at discrimination against gays in Africa but hailed the continent's "amazing" progress and potential. "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." Washington is keen to highlight Muslim-majority Senegal as an example of democracy and good governance in a corner of Africa plagued by instability and the threat of extremism in neighbouring Mali. Obama, who has been in office since 2009, has only visited Africa once in his presidential tenure: a short trip to Ghana at the beginning of his first term, drawing much debate and discussion over the US administration's interest in the continent. While acknowledging that Obama has not spent as much time in Africa as people hoped, the administration is eager to change common perception that he is not committed to the continent.
