The United States plays a vital role in strengthening an Africa which is progressively productive despite the continent’s deep and chronic challenges, President Obama stated Wednesday being an unprecedented summit focused in part at encouraging Obama’s own African legacy got to an end.
Hailing the three-day conference in Washington as a major success, Obama touted the roughly $37 billion in investments that were spurred by the summit. He said the United States and African nations would work to make the gathering of leaders a recurring event. More than 50 African heads of state and government were in Washington for the talks.
“Africa must know that they will always have a strong and reliable partner in the United States of America,” Obama said at a news conference marking the end of the first U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
The president defended U.S. engagement with countries that have problematic records on human rights and corruption, arguing that America’s involvement can help spur those nations to do better. He said universal rights, good governance, and the strengthening of civil societies were high priorities for the U.S. as it seeks to partner with Africa in the 21st century.
“We find that in some cases, engaging a country that generally is a good partner but is not performing optimally when it comes to all the various categories of human rights, that we can be effective in working with them on certain areas and criticizing them and trying to elicit improvements in other areas,” Obama said.
Among the leaders treated to an elaborate reception the night before at the White House were figures such as Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has claimed his innocence regarding his alleged role in organizing violence that left more than 1,000 people dead. Obama has also spoken out repeatedly against recent laws passed in some African countries targeting lesbians and gays.
