Africa / USA: African Independences

By on August 5, 2010
Chosen as the figureheads of the continent’s civil society or for their entrepreneurial skills, 120 young Africans have been gathering for one hour with Barack Obama.

The U.S. president had invited them to the White House to mark the fiftieth anniversary of African independence of several countries. The highly formal East Room, where presidential news conferences are held, brought together a crowd of young Africans, in traditional costumes, in a circle around Barack Obama.
The American president did not make a speech, but had a free exchange of questions and answers with the young African leaders invited for three days in Washington. The President stressed the desire of the United States to establish a partnership with Africa and especially with the younger generation on whom the hopes of an entire continent are so promising.
He insisted on good governance, fight against corruption, democracy and freedom of the press, essential to economic development.
The young African visitors are not about to forget this discussion and relaxed atmosphere with the president that has in his veins a little blood of their continent. Mr. Obama has said he wants to make sure the U.S-African partnership can help all Africans in the decades ahead.
However, the hope of the African youth leaders, the African diaspora community, the civil society groups and leaders of Africa’s private sector, is that the American initiative is not a one-night.

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