US President Barack Obama delivers a speech at the African Union
headquarters in Addis Ababa on July 28, 2015. Mr Obama said it is time
for the world to change its approach to Africa. PHOTO | SAUL LOEB |
AFP
ADDIS ABABA
US President
Barack Obama said Tuesday that it was time for the world to change its
approach to Africa, as he made the first address to the African Union by
a US leader.
"As Africa changes, I've called for the world to change its approach to Africa," Obama said in a speech at the AU's headquarters in Ethiopia's capital.
"A
half century into this independence era, it is long past time to put
aside old stereotypes of an Africa forever mired in poverty and
conflict. The world must recognise Africa's extraordinary progress."
Mr Obama said Africa needed more trade, and that the United States was stepping up its business ties with the continent.
VEILED SWIPE
"So
many Africans have told me: we don't just want aid, we want trade that
fuels our progress. We don't want patrons, we want partners who help us
build our own capacity to grow. We don't want the indignity of
dependence, we want to make our own choices and determine our own
future," he said.
President Obama
said the United States was a trusted partner of the continent, and took a
veiled swipe at resource-hungry China — which has massively stepped up
its presence on the continent.
"Economic
relationships cannot simply be about other countries building
infrastructure with foreign labour or extracting Africa's natural
resources," Mr Obama said.
"Real
economic partnerships have to be a good deal for Africa. They have to
create jobs and capacity for Africans. That's the kind of partnership
America offers."
The United States, he said, stood with
Africa to defeat terrorism and end conflict, warning that the
continent's progress will "depend on security and peace".
TERROR WAR
"As
Africa stands against terror and conflict, I want you to know the
United States stands with you," President Obama said, highlighting
threats ranging from Somalia's Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram in Nigeria,
insurgents in Mali and Tunisia, and the Uganda-led Lord's Resistance
Army rebels in central Africa.
He said the United States was backing AU military efforts and saluting the "brave African peacekeepers" battling militants.
"From Somalia and Nigeria, to Mali and Tunisia, terrorists continue to target innocent civilians," he said.
"Many
of these groups claim the banner of religion, but hundreds of millions
of African Muslims know that Islam means peace. We must call groups like
Al-Qaeda, ISIL (Islamic State), Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram, we must call
them what they are — murderers."
AL-SHABAAB
But he also said that progress was being made.
"Because
of the AU force in Somalia, Al-Shabaab controls less territory, and the
Somali government is growing stronger. In central Africa, the AU-led
mission continues to degrade the Lord's Resistance Army," he said.
"In
the Lake Chad basin, forces from several nations — with the backing of
the AU — are fighting to end Boko Haram's senseless brutality."
The US leader also condemned African leaders who refuse to give up power.
"Africa's
democratic progress is also at risk when leaders refuse to step aside
when their terms end," Obama said in a speech at the AU's headquarters
in the Ethiopian capital.
"No one
should be president for life," Mr Obama said, adding that he himself was
looking forward to handing over to his successor.
NKURUNZIZA ON THE SPOT
"I
have to be honest with you: I just don't understand this. Under our
constitution, I cannot run again. There's still so much I want to get
done to keep America moving forward. But the law is the law and no one
is above it, not even presidents," he said.
"And,
frankly, I'm looking forward to life after being president. It will
mean more time with my family, new ways to serve, and more visits to
Africa."
President Obama singled out
Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza — whose re-election to a third
term provoked weeks of unrest in the small central African nation — as
an example of the dangers of trying to stay put.
"When
a leader tries to change the rules in the middle of the game just to
stay in office, it risks instability and strife, as we've seen in
Burundi."
He said clinging to power was "often just a first step down a perilous path."
CANCER OF GRAFT
"If
a leader thinks they're the only person who can hold their nation
together, then that leader has failed to truly build their country,"
Obama said, hailing Nelson Mandela as an example for the continent.
He at the same time called on Africa to end "the cancer of corruption" and embrace democracy to ensure continued progress.
"Nothing
will unlock Africa's economic potential more than ending the cancer of
corruption," Mr Obama said, warning that it drained "billions of
dollars" from economies that could be used for health systems or
creating employment.
"Only Africans can end corruption in their countries," he said.
But he also said that ensuring democratic rights were protected was key.
DEMOCRACY CALL
"Africa's
progress will also depend on democracy, because Africans, like people
everywhere, deserve the dignity of being in control of their own lives,"
he said, in a speech that closes his two-nation tour of Kenya and
Ethiopia.
"Yet at this very moment,
these same freedoms are denied to many Africans. I have to proclaim,
democracy is not just formal elections," he added, to cheers from the
packed hall, with all its 2,500 seats taken by AU officials as well as
civil society representatives.
"When
journalists are put behind bars for doing their jobs, or activists are
threatened as governments crack down on civil society, then you may have
democracy in name, but not in substance.
"I
am convinced that nations cannot realise the full promise of
independence until they fully protect the rights of their people."
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