Obama struggled to keep the focus on his goals for the week-long trip, also scheduled to stop in South Africa and Tanzania, as he sought to fulfil neglected African expectations for America’s first black president.
He stepped on delicate ground when asked by reporters to comment on a landmark US Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriage while visiting a country where homosexuality is a crime and rights groups decry gay harassment.
Obama said he understood that different religions and cultures adhered to different beliefs and traditions, but that the simple principle of equality should be the guide for states and governments.
“I want the African people to just hear what I believe,” Obama said.
“My basic view is that regardless of race, regardless of religion, regardless of gender, regardless of sexual orientation, when it comes to how the law treats you… people should be treated equally.”
Senegalese President Macky Sall replied that though Senegal was a “very tolerant country which does not discriminate in terms of inalienable rights of the human being”, it was not ready yet to decriminalise homosexuality.
“But of course this does not mean that we are all homophobic.”
Obama said he still planned to head for South Africa on Friday, despite speculation that with anti-apartheid icon Mandela apparently close to death, his plans could be thrown into disarray.
The president said he was drawn into political activism by Mandela as a student, and had been inspired by his example in embracing his long-time captors in a spirit of national unity.
“I think he is a hero for the world and if and when he passes from this place, one thing I think we will all know is, his legacy is one that will linger on through the ages,” Obama said.
Obama also had to parry questions about the chase for fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, who is holed up in limbo in Moscow airport, but he appeared keen to bring the focus back to Africa.
“In the meantime, we’ve got other business to do. For example, we’re here in Africa and I don’t want people to forget why we’re here,” Obama said.
“The fact of the matter is that Africa oftentimes is not focused on by our press and our leadership back home unless there’s a crisis.”
Obama’s tour is meant to promote democratisation and trade and business links on a continent he said is poised to break out economically, and which has attracted lavish attention from US rivals like China.
“I see this as a moment of great progress and great promise for the continent,” Obama said.
“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 Islamic extremism in neighbouring Mali.
“Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa and one of the strongest partners that we have in the region,” Obama said as he stood side-by-side with Sall.
“It is moving in the right direction, with reforms to deepen democratic institutions. I believe Senegal can be a great example.”
Later, in a moment of potent symbolism, Obama will take a ferry to Goree Island off the Senegal coast, a memorial to the hundreds of thousands of Africans claimed by the slave trade.
In a “full circle” moment of history, Obama, the son of a Kenyan father, and his wife Michelle, the descendent of slaves, will acknowledge a dark period of American and African history which resonates today.
Obama claims a spiritual connection to Africa, but a crush of international crises in his first term thwarted his hopes to travel extensively on the continent. He did manage a short trip to Ghana in 2009.
But there was still disappointment in Africa, where Obama’s 2008 election caused euphoria and expectations that he would put US policy towards the continent at the top of his agenda.
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If this was the only thing you came to tell us, then you can hit the road (or the sky)
ReplyDeleteGay,homosexual,lebians all are abomination in d site of God nd in Africa at large we forbid it...dont let wat happen in sodom nd gomora repeat itself in africa...Man must marry woman rite frm creation
ReplyDeleteObama are you playing anti-christ? Repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today. Remember heaven and earth will pass away, a jot of His (God) word will not pass unfulfilled. In addition, God is not a respecter of any man.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you. from Emmanuel
Thank u dear President Obama for realizing that culture and religion places a pivotal role on human existence,especially in Africa. Gay and lesbian rights are not known to us and should not be foist on us. It is seen as abomination to us and cannot be acceptable as it contravenes our religious believes.
ReplyDeleteWomen are created for men to have sexual communion and relationship .anyone that wants to go against that is an enemy of God and an antichrist .this kind of evil can bring the wroth of God upon any nation .my dear stay away from sodomy its dangerous.
ReplyDeleteObama,am very sure is GAY. He should go back to America and preach his gay sermon. Do not come to Africa again for that mission.
ReplyDeleteNonsense.
Your Excellency President Obama,
ReplyDeleteThank you for expressing your opinion.
Please permit me to say that you can keep your opinion to yourself.
Please not that Africa is a continent with many countries so please stop calling "Africa" as if it were a country!
You can also spend more time solving America's problems than talking about sodomy everywhere you go as if that is the most pressing problem the world has.
In Nigeria we do believe in equality but we do not support homosexuality at all.
We are not homophobic but we do not support and condone sodomy.
Thank you Mr. President but your opinion does not count in Nigeria.
is it today that you people are knowing that obama is the devil in a white garment? well he is. So lets not listen to him,he can say that to the americans not nigerians cause i know that some african countries will want to do what he says but we NIGERIANS CAN NOT DO IT.it is an abomination. Instead of him to say P Goodluck refuse his proposal to legalize same sex marriage in nigeria he's saying is insecueity that is stoping him from coming to nigeria.Abeg, i beg you in the name of God don't come to nigeria you don't have heads order presidents of america before you visited nigeria and more presidents greater than you will visit nigeria.plz don't come.
ReplyDeletePlease "African" ignore the twisted scapegoat...as he comes,he will go.unless he wants to rule from "africa".then we can relate to him.
ReplyDeleteFor now,I can't even see any statement from him. What did he say again? (Sm1 remind me)
Good luck Jonathan is still better than Obama.he is nt achieving anything even common American cannot access good and quality health service despite good Drs in US.plus immorality bn preached everywhere.it shows Obama is a far below mediocre.even Lizard nd dogs r better than him cus dog wnt chase same sex.if he likes let him his daugthers practice it.he is a fool
ReplyDeleteIf Obama is cumin 2 preach 4 acceptance of d satanic act of gays,he shuld b informed dt he is nt welcumd in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteObama will be dumped by these guys after using him to do what no white president has ever done in the history of America.
ReplyDeleteThe only time Nigeria will practice gay/lesbi is when we start having pure fire rain from the sky, and which year could it be 2099?? hmmmm Obama!!!!!
ReplyDelete