Too Late
Obama is visiting Africa. The Chinese have already been there a long time, however, and they are surprisingly popular — particularly because they conveniently refrain from moral instruction. The U.S. president is a latecomer in many respects.
His visit has come late; the reception is subdued. Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president in history, has not made an appearance in the land of his forefathers in four years. The initial euphoria felt by many Africans when one of their own was elected to the most powerful position in the world has long since yielded to disappointment and defiant indifference.
Under Obama, the U.S. government has also made economic losses in Africa. Other countries, with China at the forefront, have protected their interests in the race for resources. It is of symbolic significance that a meeting with his professed role model Nelson Mandela was not possible during Obama’s trip; Mandela is fighting for his life.
The U.S. president is a latecomer in many respects. In contrast, the Chinese are surprisingly popular — particularly because they conveniently refrain from moral instruction. This not only goes down well with despots, but also with citizens, who perceive the purely economically motivated Chinese advances as meeting on a level playing field.
Obama is correct when he warns that Africa’s recent progress rests on a “fragile foundation” in the face of corruption and despotism. Through his long absence, the U.S. president has not only lost credibility; he is now also lacking leverage for asserting exploits.
His visit has come late; the reception is subdued. Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president in history, has not made an appearance in the land of his forefathers in four years. The initial euphoria felt by many Africans when one of their own was elected to the most powerful position in the world has long since yielded to disappointment and defiant indifference.
Under Obama, the U.S. government has also made economic losses in Africa. Other countries, with China at the forefront, have protected their interests in the race for resources. It is of symbolic significance that a meeting with his professed role model Nelson Mandela was not possible during Obama’s trip; Mandela is fighting for his life.
The U.S. president is a latecomer in many respects. In contrast, the Chinese are surprisingly popular — particularly because they conveniently refrain from moral instruction. This not only goes down well with despots, but also with citizens, who perceive the purely economically motivated Chinese advances as meeting on a level playing field.
Obama is correct when he warns that Africa’s recent progress rests on a “fragile foundation” in the face of corruption and despotism. Through his long absence, the U.S. president has not only lost credibility; he is now also lacking leverage for asserting exploits.