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Editorial: Why Obama snubbed African leaders
Sunday, 08 August 2010 23:33
Earlier in June report emerged that US president Barrack Obama was set to host 18 African leaders as part of the
50th year of independence celebrations in about 17 countries in Sub Saharan Africa. That meeting was reportedly scheduled for this August.It is now August, but instead of the infamously onerous national leaders, the US president was been seen the world over addressing what he called ‘the next generation of leaders’ of Africa.
Already, the consensus among observers in African is that this is the Obama White House’s way of dismissing the repulsive attitude of the continent’s “older leaders”, as he called them.
Even though the US government never officially identified with that earlier announced meeting with African leaders, President Obama was quoted as saying he was looking for a “fresh start” as regard development initiatives for Africa.
So whether the failure of the US government to invite African leaders was a rebuff or not, it is more than obvious that its decision to appeal to the continent’s younger generation for collaboration suggests a lack of hope on the part of the older generation of leaders.
It goes without saying that there can hardly be any “fresh start” where the relationship involves any of the present crop of African leaders – from Banjul to Asmara, Rabat to Harare…
African governments starving of some semblance of legitimacy among their people kind of derive some form of credibility from relationships that conveys a picture of international recognition – like being invited to meetings with deserving world leaders… So for those who remain pessimistic about the current trend of democratization of the African continent, it is a source of relief that Obama “snubbed” African leaders and denied them the much desired chance of legitimizing their repressive regimes with images of themselves and the US president.
This move by the US government is therefore a commendable one.
Having said this, we do not expect the US to make this out plainly; but Obama’s words to the young, sharp and perceptive younger generation African leaders were as clear as the daylight.
“…sometimes the older leaders get into old habits, and those old habits are hard to break…what we wanted to do was to communicate directly to people who may not assume that the old ways of doing business are the ways that Africa has to do business,” Obama told his guests at the White House.
Simply put, the US president was saying that all hope has been lost on the current crop of corrupt, totalitarian, less productive … African leaders.
The Washington meeting between Obama and the young African leaders carries with it enormous optimism in that, as expressed by the visiting youths themselves, there is reasonable awareness among African youths on the various factors hindering the development of the continent – diseases, poverty, etc. all of which are the upshot of a repulsive trend of bad governance.
The hope is that this initiative by the Obama administration will be a routine from now on. It could possibly be like a recruiting ground for future leaders of the continent.
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Comment
Examples of tolerant societies are Mali, Mauritius, Ghana’s also moving in direction after the carnage under Rawlings; & even Senegal, despite its short-comings’ better than Gambia in terms of democracy & rule of law. Guinea Conakry’s also moving fast in direction despite never been under democracy before in whole of life span of the republic. These are just a few within our region.
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The lull/stop in killing of persons wasn’t without the result of the reactions of Gambians & friends, ECOWAS & international community; & MUST stay as it is IF yaya want to buy some time for himself at the helm. Those already committed MUST be accounted for.
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You sound like teenager... I advised you to go and do your school homework and upon that, learn to respect your elders so that in the future you can be a gentleman for your family and The Republic of The Gambia...Gambia is a very serious and sad issue, for your age and unhealthy for your young mental development... Hopefully go to university and be productive to society and Gambia for the good of all Gambians despite their political affiliation. I hope you will listen to my advice as your parent or brother will advise you. You be a good lad....
You paint Gambia like the River is covered in blood. The reality is, while freedom of expression may not be what we want it to be, Gambia is one of the finest place to live on this Earth. And that is why the international community is not fooled to complain about Gambia. They have their embassies in Gambia n get constant feedback as to what is happening on the ground.
We can argue here about what Gambia need to be. The reality is, apart from hard economic times that is everywhere the world over, Gambia is just fine."
By Pa Pierre...My brother you have earned a Phd with this statement above...these guys want to destabilise our beloved country through propaganda..
Quote: “Lamin, your view of ‘yaya can kill’/have killed in the past as in your ‘no killing for past two years’ -doesn’t hold water for a normal tolerant society”. Please don’t misquote me I said and quote in comment 57 “To my knowledge is 2-3yrs that no killing is linked to government”. There is no normal tolerant society these days and if so give an example. Is unfortunate that you can count all the deaths, except the death of Mr Kalilu Njie, killed by the UDP and the 8 soldiers killed at Farefenni while on active duty. Those are deaths not important to you. I don’t want to get into the debate of the killings you mentioning, that if I make a comment it may be seen very irresponsible by others. As a Gambian I share the same feelings as any of their family members and will give great respect not to engage on any debate or continue reminding them every time that will hurt their feelings.
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