The African-American President

As President Obama touched down in Accra, he was met with cheers, signs, dancers and smiles. Thousands came out to welcome the American President to what many are considering his first real visit to Africa since his election. This renewed excitement helped in creating an atmosphere not far removed from his campaign and election to the highest office of the U.S. Obama merchandise flooded the streets, while chants for “change” could be heard all over the country. This was indeed a spectacle for the ages. And why wouldn’t his welcoming, beckon such a reaction from Ghanaians? The reaction would have been similar in virtually any African country he could have visited. Obama is only a generation removed from his family roots in Kenya, and he has effectively become a symbol of African pride and hope to many all over the region. Ask most Kenyans, or east Africans for that matter, about the American President and you will see the gleaming pride and support that he yields. This is very much true for many other countries as well. But is Obama really what Africans have been waiting for? A basic assessment could conclude that Obama indeed has a stronger connection with Africa than any other U.S. President before him, and the overwhelming popularity he has both as a diplomat and a leader is undeniable. Still though, Obama’s short tenure as U.S. President comes immediately after an increased commitment from former President of the U.S. George W. Bush, an improvement that is greatly unbeknownst to most of the international community. But if there was indeed one legacy left behind during the Bush years, it was his work in African assistance, especially in the areas of HIV/AIDS and education. The real question is will Obama further this trend? The question is a difficult one. So far while in office, Obama has not shown any resounding differences in his policies toward Africa than in past administrations. In fact, as it pertains to the United States’ foreign relations agenda, Africa has yet again not been made a priority. The Obama administration has so far announced its focus on much more standard international problems, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, or the re-emergence of an aggressive Russia. In contrast, Obama has done very little to address pressing African conflicts all over the continent. So far there have been no announcements about assisting in the conflict in Darfur, a situation that could prove to be similar to the disastrous inaction of President Clinton during the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994 in Rwanda. He has also neglected the conflicts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a struggle that has taken the lives of an estimated 5 million people since 1996. And as for his recent visit to Africa, it seems more plausible that Obama is only following suit. The American President will be the third consecutive head of state to visit Ghana, following trips from both President Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Many Kenyans already feel betrayed that Obama, as a Kenyan-American, chose to visit Ghana rather than the country of his father. It seems that until this point Obama has done exactly what all American presidents have done; solidify American interests and focus on standard foreign relation issues. During the recent meeting of the G-8 in L’Aquila, Italy, President Obama told African countries that the legacy of colonialism was not an excuse for failing to build prosperous, democratic societies as he unveiled a $20 billion program financed by the United States and other countries to help developing nations grow more food to feed their people. This commitment only came after leaders from developing countries put pressure on the world’s powers to make due on their promises. The United States needs to become more active in rallying support and resources from other world powers to assist in the development of African nations. It is time that Africans specifically, hold Obama accountable for the promises he has made. As for the question of Obama’s roots connecting him to Africa in a much more personal and cultural way, the answer is a resounding yes. The problem is whether this linked heritage will translate to any tangible benefits for Africa, the East African community especially. Despite the extreme support from the African community, will the “change” that Obama so famously campaigned for only benefit the United States? Time will unveil this mystery. But for Africans, who unconditionally support Obama, either for who they think he is or what they think he stands for; it may be beneficial to take a look at the work he is doing a bit more critically. Dustin is an American student from Florida State University that has worked on development projects all over Rwanda. He is a project manager with the Global Peace Exchange a student-run NGO, and co-founder of the Monsignor William A. Kerr English Language Resource Centre at the Catholic University of Kabgayi (UCK) in Gitarama. E-mail: dustin.r.daniels@gmail.com