Africa Reacts to U.S. President-Elect Obama
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With all the recent attention given to Barack Obama’s historic election on Tuesday evening, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the reactions in Africa, particularly as they regard to development. Africa has greeted Obama’s victory with notable euphoria, but some believe Africa’s expectations of an Obama presidency will need to be managed, despite his ancestral ties to the continent:
- South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, said in a statement that it was “confident that the Obama administration will work to strengthen ties between the US and Africa, building on development initiatives already in place, forging a genuine partnership to tackle the challenges facing the continent.”
- The LA Times observes a blend of optimism and skepticism regarding Obama’s ability to thrust Africa into the political spotlight, especially given the U.S.’s current economic crises and military commitments.
- The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU, remarked “It is an exceptionable achievement for an African American candidate to be voted into the highest office in the land by an electorate dominated by the descendents of those whose forefathers enslaved and disenfranchised black Americans.” It urged him to “implement a new ‘Marshall Plan’ to boost the economies of the developing world.”
- Kenyan human rights activist Maina Kia predicts a possible increase in scrutiny of African government, noting Obama’s stance on Darfur, Robert Mugabe, and the need for a strong response against HIV/AIDS from governments.
Only time will tell just how Obama’s election will impact Africa, but it looks like many will be tuning in to see what happens.
-Rena Pacheco-Theard
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November 7, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I just saw your campaign video on the Myspace home page. Although I completely understand that your intentions are good. Everyone taking part in this organization has plenty of money, food etc…
But don’t you think that the economy being what it is: that asking Americans that are barely surviving them selves is just a little bit out there? Our money as a country is always going out to other countries and now we are the ones that need help.
Do you realize that there are children right here in the states that go to bed hungry and cold at night thinking that no one cares?
Feel free to contact me on this, I have formed a world wide non profit for children, but we really need to start right here.
Maybe one of you could have a chat with The Pope? Catholics refuse to allow birth control: but they have no interest in feeding all of these amazing little children that I dieing slowly and painfully?
I’m sorry: but I just don’t get it.
November 8, 2008 at 2:44 am
put your faith in God. not in man or woman.
November 8, 2008 at 6:47 am
‘For the children’ -our future generations!
Although I have voted in every election since I was 18, for the first time in my 51 years, I voted with excitement, hope and vision. I voted for our future -a future pregnant with unlimited possibility!
Barack Obama has rekindled my hope in the sensibilities of humankind. He has restored a sense of childlike optimism in me -hope that the long and steadfast journey I have been on -championing for the rights of our children, for ethics, integrity, and healing- can actually come into fruition in our present days -not in some far distant future of ‘potential.’
Because of this unique leader, and the urgent calling and opportunity we have to now make right what has been made so wrong, I was inspired to write this song/video in support of our children, our animals and our planet!
It is my gift of love to the world…and I hope it inspires all who see it -just as Barack Obama has inspired me! -Lynn Zanetta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gi3VNLhHq4
November 8, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I am fully convinced that God knows what is best for us.
Congratulations, President-Elect Obama!
November 8, 2008 at 8:04 pm
It’s more than true, we are living in a world made of misery and of hate, I believe this is the right moment to change it. And I mean real change, change that can make a difference in the life of others. however, this is a challenge to you, people ! If you really mean what you’re talking about.
If , you really mean change, answer this question, and you will get the solution for this problem, which is, changing Poverty. Once again, I’m asking you to make a call to you conscience, amd tell the world, If yes or not, That “God, People & Money” cannot change whatever that truly need to be changed, such as, war to peace and poverty to something else ?
N.B: God created the world, and created people last, just to make use of this world, and people invented money, and people choose to replace the whole world by money. Now, it’s time to ask God for help, and make use of money to help people get out of poverty. Let’s get as many people as we can, and ask them to invest their time, effort and money, in order to help those who are living in poverty, to have access to school, education, knowledge, money, power, and change, whatever that really need to be changed. Once again, such as war to peace and poverty to something else.
November 9, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I am going to Swaziland two times next year in order to volunteer at an AIDS orphange . . . thank you for what you are doing!
November 10, 2008 at 11:33 am
America has relief programs that have unfortunately taken cuts, so I am definitely not on the same page as…Page.
If you don’t get it: Go to a 3rd world community and spend some time. See what man has done to a group of people who are rich in resources- the largest continent. I saw things that stopped me in my tracks. Man, by greed and circumstance has violated every right of these individuals.
Married? Got a nice diamond? Do you know how many people died for that? Or were dismembered.
America has a lot of problems, but the majority of people have allowed this to continue, when we had the right to stop it a long time ago, and didn’t. It may have redeemed it self by this election, but now we are in a wake of destruction that frankly deserves its own form of justice.
I was actually happier in a small village with little, then by brats here who are completely disrespectful. Yes, we have families in need in this country, and we need to help them.
On a much larger scale, we have reaped wealth by the cost of human lives abroad.
Frankly, In my humble opinion…what a deplorable act of selfishness? Worse yet are those who believed the lies and supported complicity.
It is time to change many things NOW, here and abroad.