Obama Wants Increased Trade, Jobs for Africa

U.S. President Barack Obama says former South African leader and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela is a personal inspiration and an "inspiration to the world."

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, during the second leg of his three-nation tour of Africa. Obama and South African President Jacob Zuma held bilateral talks there Saturday, with a state dinner planned in the evening.

White House officials say Obama and first lady Michelle will not visit anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who has been in a Pretoria hospital for three weeks.? The Obamas will instead meet privately with family members of the former president, who is in critical but stable condition.? The decision was made out of deference to Mandela's "peace and comfort and the family's wishes."

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

Also Saturday, Obama will hold a town hall-style meeting in Soweto, the Johannesburg township that played a pivotal role during protests against apartheid.

While meeting with President Zuma Saturday, Obama discussed issues of economics and governance, as well as neighboring Zimbabwe, which is facing a turbulent presidential election.

U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told VOA that 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. ?

South Africa is the continent's largest economy.? Obama was last in the country in 2006 as a U.S. senator. ?

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

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 in Tanzania before returning to Washington.

Source: http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-praises-mandela-as-global-inspiration/1691737.html

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