While Kenya launched one of the biggest security operations ever seen in the capital Nairobi to host Obama from Friday evening to Sunday, the habitual reach of Ethiopia’s powerful security forces meant there was little obvious extra fanfare ahead of his arrival.
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“There is no excuse for sexual assault or domestic violence, there is no reason that young girls should suffer genital mutilation, there is no place in civilised society for the early or forced marriage of children”.
Upenbo Abraham, a 23-year-old economics student from an area of western Kenya near Obama’s relatives, said he was “encouraged, as a poor boy from a village next to his home”.
He also warned that Kenya would “not succeed if it treats women and girls as second-class citizens”. “You can realize your dreams right here, right now”.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – As he motorcades from hotel to conference room to arena in Africa, President Barack Obama has been fantasizing about a return trip to the continent after leaving office – one with more family, less fanfare and fewer people telling him where he can’t go.
Obama also vowed the U.S. will intensify its cooperation with the Kenyan government in its ongoing battle against the terrorist group, al Shabaab.
Additionally, close to 700 pastors in Kenya signed a joint-letter in May asking Obama not to bring the “homosexuality debate” to their country.
The target was a heavily guarded building housing diplomatic missions and frequented by government officials and global workers.
“Comparing homophobia to racial discrimination, Obama said the state had no right to punish people because of “who they love”.
Members of the audience hold up their cameras and phones during a speech by US President Barack Obam …
South Sudan’s warring leaders – President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, who will not be at the meeting – effectively face an ultimatum, a “final best offer”, as reported by one senior administration official. “In these extended families, there are cousins and uncles and aunties that show up that you didn’t know existed, but you’re always happy to meet”, Obama said.
“As an African American in the United States I am painfully aware of the what happens when people are treated differently”, he said, adding “bad things happen” when such a path was followed.
“What these stories also tell us is about the arc of progress”, Obama said.
Homophobia is on the rise in Africa, and espousing evangelical Christian values is a major vote victor in many countries. Unswayed, Kenyatta responded by making it clear that gay rights are a “nonissue” in his country.
In an address reflecting on his family’s past and their country’s future, Obama declared Kenya to be “at a crossroads” where it can either move forward, or bind itself to harmful African traditions.
“My hope is that a few of the philanthropic work that I do after my presidency is over builds on a few of the things that we’ve been doing now”.
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Barack Obama Sr was a pipe-smoking economist who walked out when Obama was just two and died in a vehicle crash in Nairobi in 1982, aged 46.
