US President Barack Obama speaks during a “town hall” meeting at the
Summit of the Washington Fellowship for the Young African Leaders
Initiative(YALI) in Washington, DC on July 28, 2014. The YALI Summit
serveed as the lead-up event to next week’s inaugural U.S.-Africa
Leaders Summit, the largest gathering any U.S. President has held with
African heads of state and government, which will strengthen ties
between the United States and one of the world’s most dynamic and
fastest growing regions. AFP PHOTO
There has been a flurry of activity in
Washington DC all week as the US capital prepares for the first ever
US-African leaders Summit whose preliminary activities opened Saturday.
On Friday, a statement released by the State Department Friday said security has been beefed up in and around Washington.
A spot check by the Nation revealed that all five star hotels with presidential suites are fully booked for the week beginning August 3rd.
Regular
hotels too will be in booming business as most heads of state and
government will be accompanied by tens of government officials and other
entrepreneurs.
City workers could be seen manicuring
lawns and cleaning up the streets as business owners spruced up their
premises in readiness for the African leaders.
'LAVISH SPENDERS'
“Some
of these leaders are known to be lavish spenders especially during
their visits to Western capitals,” Observed Moses Kagera, a resident of
Washington DC.
For four days, some major city roads will remain closed and city officials will be on hand to guide traffic.
Transportation plans have been developed by a partnership of local and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies.
“Road
closures, parking restrictions and changes to public transportation
routes and public works services will be necessary during the U.S. –
Africa Leaders Summit,” said the statement.
Closures will be coordinated by the District Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The
closures will be staggered in implementation based on the locations of
Summit Events. Beginning and ending times and dates have been included
with each days’ closures.
Fencing and other physical
barriers will also be in place as will uniformed law enforcement
officers. Vehicular traffic will be limited to law enforcement, official
participants, employees and in certain locations, guests.
Most leaders are expected to be in town by Sunday afternoon.
AL-BASHIR LEFT OUT
On
Thursday, a senior official in the Obama administration defended the US
decision to invite President Uhuru Kenyatta who is facing charges at
the International Criminal Court (ICC)
“On President
Kenyatta, of course we’ve expressed some concerns around the ICC. Kenya
has a process by which they’re working to address those concerns, and
we’ve been supportive of those efforts,” said Ben Rhodes, a deputy
National Security advisor in a press briefing.
“And we
also have obviously a very deep and significant relationship with Kenya
on not just security issues but on issues associated with trade and
development. And they have been a key regional partner,” he added.
He
was answering a question by an Al Jazeera journalist who sought to know
why Mr Kenyatta was included in a list that saw Sudan’s president Al
Bashir, who is also indicted, left out.
The official
also said Mr Obama was guided by how the African Union regarded the
heads of State and government in deciding who to invite.
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