http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-3907722/In-Africa-little-enthusiasm-US-vote-Obama.html
In Africa, little enthusiasm for US vote after Obama
By Afp
Published: 01:51 EDT, 5 November 2016 | Updated: 01:51 EDT, 5 November 2016
Nairobi - "The dream becomes reality", "Our son, our hope": the
headlines in the Kenyan press in 2008 captured pride and excitement
after the election of Barack Obama.
Eight years later, enthusiasm for the outgoing president has faded on
a continent that he is accused of forsaking.
The election of the first black president of the United States on
November 4, 2008 sparked scenes of jubilation in Kenya, the homeland
of Obama's father. A public holiday was declared in honour of his
victory.
There were widespread hopes that Obama would do much for Africa, but
as he prepares to hand over to either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump,
he is accused of neglecting the continent.
"Africa had unrealistic expectations towards Obama given his origins,"
said Aly-Khan Satchu, a Kenyan economic analyst. "Especially during
his first term, Obama was less involved in Africa" than his
predecessor George W. Bush.
"People judged him very harshly during his first mandate because he
didn't do much for Africa," said Liesl Louw Vaudran, an analyst at the
Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies think tank.
Satchu attributes this to the US recession and the need for Obama "to
show the American public that he was the president of the USA".
"During his second term, I think he tried to address this issue and he
did more for Africa," Satchu said.
Obama slow to engage
Obama was slow to engage in Africa, a continent far from the heart of
US interests, preferring to make the Asia-Pacific region the
centrepiece of his foreign and economic policy.
Unlike George W. Bush, whose PEPFAR programme has helped save the
lives of millions of Africans with HIV/AIDS, Obama has launched no
transformative initiatives on the continent. His 2013 "Power Africa"
plan has fallen well short of its promise of doubling access to
electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, generating just 400 megawatts (MW)
of the 30,000 planned by 2030.
Obama's African appearances have also been limited. There was a brief
stopover in Ghana in 2009 - where he declared, "Africa doesn't need
strongmen, it needs strong institutions" - and then a tour of Senegal,
South Africa and Tanzania in 2013, followed by a visit to Ethiopia and
Kenya in 2015.
On each occasion he urged Africans to take their destiny into their
own hands, and sought openings for US companies to invest in the
continent.
He has moved to substitute a traditional aid-based policy with one of
more equal trade-based partnership, with some success: African exports
to the US, excluding oil, increased by nearly a half between 2009 and
2015.
Security and counter-terrorism remained a key priority for US efforts.
Obama "expanded considerably the US military presence in Africa," said
Achille Mbembe of South Africa's Wits Institute for Social and
Economic Research. Nevertheless, success in the fight against jihadist
groups such as the Shabaab in Somalia and Boko Haram in Nigeria has
been elusive.
Similarly, efforts to foster democracy have faltered with a string of
disputed or deficient elections and a growing trend among African
leaders of clinging to power in defiance of constitutions.
'Arrogant... racist'
African frustration with Obama has found resonance even in his own
family, with half-brother Malik enthusiastically campaigning for Trump
on Twitter, and even accepting an invitation to attend the final
televised presidential debate in Las Vegas last month.
Malik's position is not, however the norm, and many Africans readily
denounce Trump's views.
"Hillary Clinton, she is someone with a vision but this guy - how do
you call him? - he is arrogant and a racist, he can be angry and even
start more wars," said Benjamin Namkobe, a 31-year-old motorcycle taxi
driver in Nairobi.
Neither candidate has made much mention of Africa in their major
speeches since being named their party's candidate, but this is no
surprise, said J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center at the
Atlantic Council think tank in Washington.
"Africa largely does not figure into the electoral dynamics of the
United States," said Pham, adding that "foreign policy in general"
takes a back seat.
He pointed out that US policy towards Africa "tends to enjoy
bipartisan support", meaning it does not represent a point of
differentiation in debates.
It also means little change is to be expected, whoever wins.
Received on Sat Nov 05 2016 - 14:45:54 EDT