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Will Obama’s Africa Tour Dispel Disengagement Narrative?

Posted July 27th, 2015 at 3:33 pm (UTC-5)
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The conventional wisdom on President Barack Obama’s engagement with Africa is largely critical – his predecessor did so much more. Africans love Obama nonetheless, observers say. This trip includes some firsts: Obama will be the first sitting American president to address the African Union in Ethiopia, where he has already boldly called for political freedoms. And in Kenya, his father’s homeland, he spoke frankly about gay rights and corruption.

Kenya, Open for Business

Posted July 27th, 2015 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
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The Chinese have built large numbers of roads, modern office buildings, schools, and ports, as well as other major infrastructure projects. From this, he is likely to conclude that Kenya — in a pattern that is true across the continent — is changing rapidly, and American commercial relations are not keeping up.

Obama’s Trip to Africa Changes a Narrative

Posted July 23rd, 2015 at 9:14 pm (UTC-5)
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The highlight of Obama’s trip to Africa will be a summit on how to support entrepreneurs. US support for start-up businesses reflects a different approach to lifting the continent.

Obama Travels to Africa with Mixed Ratings

Posted July 23rd, 2015 at 12:58 pm (UTC-5)
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The president’s first trip to Africa in 2009 was a single stop in Ghana. It left some African’s asking if they were being abandoned by Obama, whose father’s birthplace is in Kenya. This visit, his third, begins in Kenya and continues in Ethiopia, the headquarters of the African Union. Despite “Obama-mania,” some are dismayed the president will be meeting with two of Africa most controversial – and divisive – leaders.

Going to Kenya Is a Dumb Idea, Mr. President

Posted May 8th, 2015 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
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…we can continue to be friendly to Kenya without our president paying a visit and, by so doing, conferring legitimacy.