Cannot give enough thanks for The Obama Diary, which has done such a fabulous job of covering not only this Overseas Trip, but every other Overseas Trip of President Obama, while the MSM has done a blackout.
The President and First Lady arrive for an official state dinner in Pretoria with President Zuma and First Lady Thobeka Madiba-Zuma.
The First Lady’s Google Hangout
The President had a Town Hall with young African leaders.
Entire Townhall
President Obama and the First Lady board helicopter Marine One in front of the Union Buildings in Pretoria
Greeted by South African president Jacob Zuma and First Lady Tobeka Zuma at the Union Buildings in Pretoria
—Ari Shapiro (NPR)
President Obama and South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma hold a joint news conference
President Obama with South African President Zuma
Obama pledges $7 billion to upgrade power in Africa
By Faith Karimi and Laura Bernardini, CNN
updated 7:46 AM EDT, Sun June 30, 2013
U.S. President Barack Obama pledged $7 billion Sunday to help combat frequent power blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa.
Funds from the initiative, dubbed Power Africa, will be distributed over the next five years.
Obama and Mandela’s relationship
“More than two-thirds of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is without electricity, and more than 85% of those living in rural areas lack access,” the White House said in a statement.
Sub-Saharan Africa will need more than $300 billion to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, the statement said.
The preliminary setup will include Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria , Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique.
“These countries have set ambitious goals in electric power generation, and are making the utility and energy sector reforms to pave the way for investment and growth,” the statement said.
Obama’s announcement came during his trip to South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy. The visit is part of his three-nation trip that started in Senegal and will end in Tanzania this week.
The trip aims to bolster U.S. investment opportunities, address development issues such as food security and health, and promote democracy.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/30/world/africa/south-africa-obama-pledge/index.html
Casual Observation
by BooMan
Sat Jun 29th, 2013 at 10:45:57 PM EST
I suppose some Republican heads will explode when they learn that President Obama compared Nelson Mandela to George Washington. But there’s one big difference between them. They both stood up to an oppressive colonial regime. They both won in that struggle. They both helped found their countries. They both served as their country’s first presidents. They both stepped down voluntarily in the interest of promoting democracy.
But Nelson Mandela never owned any slaves.
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/6/29/224557/314#20
PBO delivers remarks at Capetown University 12:15 pm EST.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
PRESIDENT Barack Obama in the cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 yrs on Robben Island.
https://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/351138329833656320/photo/1
https://twitter.com/texyellowdogdem/status/351112443147214848/photo/1
https://twitter.com/dougmillsnyt/status/351061350887329792/photo/1
[caption id="attachment_46627" align="alignnone" width="550"]
Pres Obama inscribes a book at Nelson Mandela’s desk at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg[/caption]
http://youtu.be/71XAjQry8Ao
Kristen Welker @kwelkernbc27m
Zuma to POTUS:You and Mandela have a bond in history bc both the first black pres. of your countires. “you carry the dreams of millions.”
Nerdy Wonka @NerdyWonka 4m
Pres. Obama says he wants Africans/govt. to ask countries investing “Are they keeping profits in the country?” “Are they hiring Africans?”
President Barack Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama visit Gorée Island off the coast of Senegal and tour the Masion des Esclaves (House of Slaves) Museum. For roughly three hundred years until the mid-1840s, countless men, women and children from Africa were kidnapped from their homes and communities and brought to this island to be sold as slaves. Narrated by the First Lady, Michelle Obama.
http://youtu.be/69T24RQgZ9Y
Obamas to Meet With Mandela Family
President Won’t Risk Disturbing Mandela in Hospital
By COLLEEN MCCAIN NELSON And PETER WONACOTT
President Barack Obama will visit the family of Nelson Mandela on Saturday, but a meeting between the first black presidents of the U.S. and South Africa won’t take place as the ailing South African leader lies critically ill in a Pretoria hospital.
President Obama, on a three-country tour of Africa, has talked about how Mr. Mandela inspired his political activism but has said he doesn’t want a “photo op” at the risk of disturbing Mr. Mandela. “The last thing I want to do is to be in any way obtrusive at a time when the family is concerned about Nelson Mandela’s condition,” he said on Air Force One on Friday.
Several hundred protestors rallied in front of the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa on Friday. The so-called “NObama” protest came as the U.S. president was arriving in the country for a two-day visit. WSJ’s Mark Scheffler reports.
President Obama and first lady Michelle will meet with the Mandela family Saturday afternoon, the White House said.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324328204578574980333967260.html
@theonlyadult
Mandela’s daughter: “Humbled by Obama’s comfort & messages of strength & inspiration. Already conveyed it to Madiba” http://bloom.bg/16GvJs6
The reception that the family has received warms my heart. Look at both POTUS and FLOTUS engaging the youth
So many beautiful smiles. My First Daughter #2, Sasha, is just gorgeous!