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Obama Arrives in South Africa

June 28, 2013

by VOA News

U.S. President Barack Obama has arrived in South Africa, the second leg of his three-nation tour of Africa to promote U.S. trade ties.

The president, his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters were greeted by dignitaries and military officers after their plane touched down at an air base near Pretoria, late Friday.

South Africa is the continent's largest economy. While in the country, Obama will hold bilateral talks with President Jacob Zuma.

U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told VOA that Obama will also likely raise the issue of Zimbabwe, which is facing a turbulent presidential election.

Rhodes said the U.S. wants to see a free, fair, and credible election in Zimbabwe, as well as space for an independent media and other elements of democracy in the country.

President Obama will also conduct a town hall in Soweto and meet with the head of the African Union Commission chairman Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Obama's visit comes amid concern about South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who remains in critical condition in a Pretoria hospital.

Speaking to reporters aboard the presidential plane, Air Force One, on Friday, Obama played down expectations of a visit with the 94-year-old Mandela.

He said, "I don't need a photo op," and "The last thing I want to do is to be in any way obtrusive, at a time when the family is concerned with Nelson Mandela's condition."

On Saturday, President Obama plans to visit Robben Island, the prison where Mandela spent much of his 27 years behind bars after being convicted in 1964 of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow South Africa’s apartheid government.

Meanwhile, protesters rallied in Cape Town and Pretoria on Friday, ahead of Obama's arrival.

They sang and waved banners as they voiced their displeasure with Obama on a wide range of issues, including the use of drones, the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and U.S. support of Israel.

Obama departed Senegal Friday after a two-day visit where he met with President Macky Sall and promoted democracy and rule of law. The president also made an emotional visit to Goree Island, a symbol of the 18th century slave trade.

President Obama is on a week-long visit to Africa, saying he wants ties with the continent based on trade and partnership, instead of aid and assistance. He will finish his tour next week in Tanzania before returning to Washington.