2 July 2009
(Page 2 of 2)
So we've got models out there. We know what it might take. What we haven't seen is a consistent, steady application of some of these models over time in Africa, and I think that now is the time to start.
Is that a failure of U.S. policy or is that a failure of governance in Africa?
I would say that the international community has not always been as strategic as it should have been, but ultimately I'm a big believer that Africans are responsible for Africa.
I think part of what's hampered advancement in Africa is that for many years we've made excuses about corruption or poor governance; that this was somehow the consequence of neo-colonialism, or the West has been oppressive, or racism. I'm not a believer in excuses.
I'd say I'm probably as knowledgeable about African history as anybody who's occupied my office. And I can give you chapter and verse on why the colonial maps that were drawn helped to spur on conflict, and the terms of trade that were uneven emerging out of colonialism.
And yet the fact is we're in 2009. The West and the United States has not been responsible for what's happened to Zimbabwe's economy over the last 15 or 20 years. It hasn't been responsible for some of the disastrous policies that we've seen elsewhere in Africa. I think that it's very important for African leadership to take responsibility and be held accountable.
And I think the people of Africa understand that. The problem is that they just haven't always had the opportunities to organize and voice their opinions in ways that create better results.
In the last minute or so of our conversation, even though you are really barely into your presidency, I already feel compelled to ask you a legacy question. (Laughter.) And that is: What, when you finish your presidency, do you expect your stamp on Africa policy to be? What do you think that will be?
I would like, at the end of my term in office, to be able to say that the United States was an effective partner with countries throughout Africa in building the kinds of institutions, political, civil, economic, that allowed for improving standards of living and greater security for the people of Africa; that we moved them on a trajectory in which they are integrating with the global economy; and that a young person growing up in Johannesburg or Lagos or Nairobi or Djibouti can say to themselves: I can stay here in Africa, I can stay in my country and succeed, and through my success, my country and my people will get stronger.
That would be a good legacy. I don't expect that we're going to get there in four years or eight years, but I think we can get on that path. And the United States is a critical partner in that process.
I need another hour or so. (Laughter.) But I thank you for your time.
Thank you so much.
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All might b well but will Genetically Modified food be an eventual problem for those who cannot afford to buy It?
I think this is another Michael Jackson act; that when MJ became successful - read accepted by the mainstream white community - he run away from his identity and seemed to be embarassed by his black African roots. Likewise Obama seems to be embarrassed by his African roots especially now how he is just going to make an inconvenient stop-over at Accra, Ghana after meeting and commensirating with the more important white European Superpower Russia.
Might as well stay away from Africa. It is a familiar movie: An African-American Embarassed with Non-European African Roots.
You are talking a lot of nonsense. What do you mean he is turning into another MJ? For your information Ghana is one of the very few countries in Africa that has a decent gov't and elected in a proper democratic way. Where do you want him to go first, like Ethiopia, who has one of the most tyrant prime ministers who is butchering people every day like most of the others. Good on you Barak, please give Ghana all the support it needs.
All Africans should thank Michael Jackson, over his career, he gave hungry, destitiute swollen belly babies over 500 million US dollars to help, more than the actual governments that call themselves in existence. Please you must be one of those dirty ARABS that say stupid things and kill people in the name of your GOD. Get a life
I think it's grossly unfair for Africans to critisize Obama saying that he is not proud of his African roots. Alot of us Africans have had to run away from Africa because ther is no hope for the future. After we attained independence in Zimbabwe, the Whitwe elite was replaced with a Black elite which is ruthless and busy looting all the wealth and sending away all the money to western counties which they pretend to critisise as imperialists. Ther is no hope for Africa with our current leaders. We can't even remove them from power using peaceful means. Is that something to be proud of?
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