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AMERICAN President Barack Obama came and went.
The 48-hour whirlwind visit to Johannesburg and Cape Town provided a platform for the US leader to re-engage Africa - a long time in coming, given the high expectations after Obama’s initial election in 2008.
The question remains: did Obama do enough to rekindle the flame of Africa that had been barely flickering in Washington?
Already, the Obama roadshow had bypassed economic powerhouse Nigeria, Kenya, the birthplace of his father, and African Union headquarters in Ethiopia. It was therefore left to the South African leg for Obama to show he meant business.
South Africa was a critical geopolitical point for Obama to not only announce new aid and related support to the continent, but also make some pointed remarks on the further growth of the African continent and obliquely take on China’s role on the continent.
By offering a $7bn assistance package to selected nations that will accelerate access to energy, the US took the battle over influence to the Chinese who have invested many billions already in African infrastructure.
However, the US commitment seems more modest when compared to the Chinese $20bn committed and an even greater $30bn from another interested party, Japan.
Based purely on the numbers game, it didn’t look as though the Americans were vaguely interested in competing with other more generous nations during their own African safaris.
China already replaced the US in 2009 as the largest trading partner to Africa and the US president needed a little more ammunition in his arsenal to arrest the advances from Beijing.
Strong institutions, not strong men
Offering student scholarships and more African summits in Washington also seemed a little thin in substance, although this did play to a core US strength (quality universities) when compared to a skills deficiency on the continent.
Where the president did score was to offer Africa a choice of trade partners. In suggesting that the US would be “interested in investing in strong institutions and not strong men”, Obama came into his own.
The reference clearly reflected a critique of China’s relationship with Africa - often characterised by trade without an adherence to the conditionalities of accountable and representative government.
Sticking to a well-worn US script of the promotion of good governance and the eradication of corruption, Obama touched on some sensitive issues even for his South African audience that might well have made some local politicians cringe.
The US president seemed most confident when identifying the continued flaws in accountable governance in Africa – and received some of the loudest applause from his University of Cape Town audience on the issue.
However, the prescriptive tone is precisely what has moved many African nations to choose China as their key trading partner - after all, no one really wants to be lectured to.
Obama also was always playing catch-up to Chinese diplomacy that has rolled out in unparalleled fashion over the last decade.
In addition, South Africa’s inclusion in the Brics - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - bloc allows it (and its African footprint) to side with an alternative global hegemony that is seeking to balance (and even curtail) the power of the US and its Western allies.
Coming hot on the heels of the recent Brics summit in Durban, the US president’s visit - while flashy and superbly choreographed - did not pack the same punch.
Perhaps this simply reflects the broader macro-geopolitical dynamics of the world as the US (and Europe) find their global reach more limited by flagging economies at home.
And, the rise of the rest (China, India, et al) already heralds a more multi-lateral world.
But Obama did make a philosophical mark. He did question existing relationships and would have caused African leaders to at least think about their existing modus operandi.
Ultimately, Africa is a big place with big opportunities – and the US just wants a bigger slice of the pie. On that basis, Obama’s visit might be judged a success.
- Fin24
*Daniel Silke is director of the Political Futures Consultancy and is a noted keynote speaker and commentator. Views expressed are his own. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielSilke or visit his website.
The 48-hour whirlwind visit to Johannesburg and Cape Town provided a platform for the US leader to re-engage Africa - a long time in coming, given the high expectations after Obama’s initial election in 2008.
The question remains: did Obama do enough to rekindle the flame of Africa that had been barely flickering in Washington?
Already, the Obama roadshow had bypassed economic powerhouse Nigeria, Kenya, the birthplace of his father, and African Union headquarters in Ethiopia. It was therefore left to the South African leg for Obama to show he meant business.
South Africa was a critical geopolitical point for Obama to not only announce new aid and related support to the continent, but also make some pointed remarks on the further growth of the African continent and obliquely take on China’s role on the continent.
By offering a $7bn assistance package to selected nations that will accelerate access to energy, the US took the battle over influence to the Chinese who have invested many billions already in African infrastructure.
However, the US commitment seems more modest when compared to the Chinese $20bn committed and an even greater $30bn from another interested party, Japan.
Based purely on the numbers game, it didn’t look as though the Americans were vaguely interested in competing with other more generous nations during their own African safaris.
China already replaced the US in 2009 as the largest trading partner to Africa and the US president needed a little more ammunition in his arsenal to arrest the advances from Beijing.
Strong institutions, not strong men
Offering student scholarships and more African summits in Washington also seemed a little thin in substance, although this did play to a core US strength (quality universities) when compared to a skills deficiency on the continent.
Where the president did score was to offer Africa a choice of trade partners. In suggesting that the US would be “interested in investing in strong institutions and not strong men”, Obama came into his own.
The reference clearly reflected a critique of China’s relationship with Africa - often characterised by trade without an adherence to the conditionalities of accountable and representative government.
Sticking to a well-worn US script of the promotion of good governance and the eradication of corruption, Obama touched on some sensitive issues even for his South African audience that might well have made some local politicians cringe.
The US president seemed most confident when identifying the continued flaws in accountable governance in Africa – and received some of the loudest applause from his University of Cape Town audience on the issue.
However, the prescriptive tone is precisely what has moved many African nations to choose China as their key trading partner - after all, no one really wants to be lectured to.
Obama also was always playing catch-up to Chinese diplomacy that has rolled out in unparalleled fashion over the last decade.
In addition, South Africa’s inclusion in the Brics - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - bloc allows it (and its African footprint) to side with an alternative global hegemony that is seeking to balance (and even curtail) the power of the US and its Western allies.
Coming hot on the heels of the recent Brics summit in Durban, the US president’s visit - while flashy and superbly choreographed - did not pack the same punch.
Perhaps this simply reflects the broader macro-geopolitical dynamics of the world as the US (and Europe) find their global reach more limited by flagging economies at home.
And, the rise of the rest (China, India, et al) already heralds a more multi-lateral world.
But Obama did make a philosophical mark. He did question existing relationships and would have caused African leaders to at least think about their existing modus operandi.
Ultimately, Africa is a big place with big opportunities – and the US just wants a bigger slice of the pie. On that basis, Obama’s visit might be judged a success.
- Fin24
*Daniel Silke is director of the Political Futures Consultancy and is a noted keynote speaker and commentator. Views expressed are his own. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielSilke or visit his website.
