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United States Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Obama recently honored Young African Leaders at a town hall meeting with Young African Leaders from over 50 countries about the future of Africa in an interconnected world and the role of the United States as a partner with African nations.

YES, YOUth CAN!

Welcome to the White House, and welcome to the United States of America.  And that includes even our friends from Ghana, who beat us in the World Cup.  Where are you?  Over there?  That’s all right.  It was close.  We’ll see you in 2014.

It’s my great privilege to welcome all of you to this Young African Leaders Forum.  You’ve joined us from nearly 50 countries.  You reflect the extraordinary history and diversity of the continent.  You’ve already distinguished yourselves as leaders —- in civil society and development and business and faith communities —- and you’ve got an extraordinary future before you.

In fact, you represent the Africa that so often is overlooked — the great progress that many Africans have achieved and the unlimited potential that you’ve got going forward into the 21st century.

Now, I called this forum for a simple reason.  As I said when I was in Accra last year, I don’t see Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world.  Whether it’s creating jobs in a global economy, or delivering education and health care, combating climate change, standing up to violent extremists who offer nothing but destruction, or promoting successful models of democracy and development —- for all this we have to have a strong, self-reliant and prosperous Africa.  So the world needs your talents and your creativity.  We need young Africans who are standing up and making things happen not only in their own countries but around the world.

And the United States wants to be your partner.  So I’m pleased that you’ve already heard from Secretary of State Clinton, and that we’re joined today by leaders from across my administration who are working to deepen that partnership every day.

I can’t imagine a more fitting time for this gathering.  This year, people in 17 nations across Sub-Saharan Africa are proudly celebrating 50 years of independence.  And by any measure, 1960 was an extraordinary year.  From Senegal to Gabon, from Madagascar to Nigeria, Africans rejoiced in the streets —- as foreign flags were lowered and their own were hoisted up.  So in 12 remarkable months, nearly one-third of the continent achieved independence —- a burst of self-determination that came to be celebrated as “The Year of Africa” — at long last, these Africans were free to chart their own course and to shape their own destiny.

Now, 1960, of course, was significant for another reason.  Here in the United States of America it was the year that a candidate for president first proposed an idea for young people in our own country to devote a year or two abroad in service to the world.  And that candidate was John F. Kennedy, and that idea would become the Peace Corps — one of our great partnerships with the world, including with Africa.

Now, the great task of building a nation is never done.  Here in America, more than two centuries since our independence, we’re still working to perfect our union.  Across Africa today, there’s no denying the daily hardships that are faced by so many — the struggle to feed their children, to find work, to survive another day.  And too often, that’s the Africa that the world sees.

But today, you represent a different vision, a vision of Africa on the move — an Africa that’s ending old conflicts, as in Liberia, where President Sirleaf told me, today’s children have “not known a gun and not had to run”; an Africa that’s modernizing and creating opportunities — agribusiness in Tanzania, prosperity in Botswana, political progress in Ghana and Guinea; an Africa that’s pursuing a broadband revolution that could transform the daily lives of future generations.

So it’s an Africa that can do great things, such as hosting the world’s largest sporting event.  So we congratulate our South African friends.  And while it may have been two European teams in the final match, it’s been pointed out that it was really Africa that won the World Cup.

So once again, Africa finds itself at a moment of extraordinary promise.  And as I said last year, while today’s challenges may lack some of the drama of 20th century liberation struggles, they ultimately may be even more meaningful, for it will be up to you, young people full of talent and imagination, to build the Africa for the next 50 years.

Africa’s future belongs to entrepreneurs like the small business owner from Djibouti who began selling ice cream and now runs his own accounting practice and advises other entrepreneurs — that’s Miguil Hasan-Farah.  Is Miguil here?  There he is right there.  Don’t be shy.  There you go.  (Applause.)

As you work to create jobs and opportunity, America will work with you, promoting the trade and investment on which growth depends.  That’s why we’re proud to be hosting the AGOA Forum this week to expand trade between our countries.  And today I’ll also be meeting with trade, commerce, and agriculture ministers from across Sub-Saharan Africa.  It’s also why our historic Food Security Initiative isn’t simply about delivering food; it’s about sharing new technologies to increase African productivity and self-sufficiency.

Now, no one should have to pay a bribe to get a job or to get government to provide basic services.  So as part of our development strategy, we’re emphasizing transparency, accountability, and a strong civil society — the kind of reform that can help unleash transformational change.  So Africa’s future also belongs to those who take charge of that kind of transparency and are serious about anti-corruption measures.

Africa’s future belongs to those who take charge of their health, like the HIV/AIDS counselor from Malawi who helps others by bravely sharing her own experience of being HIV-positive — that’s Tamara Banda.  Where is Tamara?  There she is right there. Thank you, Tamara.  (Applause.)  So our Global Health Initiative is not merely treating diseases; it’s strengthening prevention and Africa’s public health systems.  And I want to be very clear. We’ve continued to increase funds to fight HIV/AIDS to record levels, and we’ll continue to do what it takes to save lives and invest in healthier futures.

Africa’s future also belongs to societies that protects the rights of all its people, especially its women, like the journalist in Ivory Coast who has championed the rights of Muslim women and girls —- Aminata Kane-Kone.  Where is Aminata?  There she is right there.  (Applause.)  To you and to people across Africa, know that the United States of America will stand with you as you seek justice and progress and human rights and dignity of all people.

So the bottom line is this:  Africa’s future belongs to its young people, including a woman who inspires young people across Botswana with her popular radio show, called, “The Real Enchilada” —- and that’s Tumie Ramsden.  Where’s Tumie?  Right here — “The Real Enchilada.”  (Applause.)

As all of you go to — as all of you pursue your dreams —- as you go to school, you find a job, you make your voices heard, you mobilize people —- America wants to support your aspirations. So we’re going to keep helping empower African youth —- supporting education, increasing educational exchanges like the one that brought my father from Kenya in the days when Kenyans were throwing off colonial rule and reaching for a new future.  And we’re helping to strengthen grassroots networks of young people who believe — as they’re saying in Kenya today -— “Yes, Youth Can!”  “Yes, Youth Can!”  (Laughter and applause.)

Now, this is a forum, so we’ve devoted some time where I can answer some questions.  I don’t want to do all the talking.  I want to hear from you about your goals and how we can partner more effectively to help you reach them.  And we want this to be the beginning of a new partnership and create networks that will promote opportunities for years to come.

But I do want to leave you with this.  You are the heirs of the independence generation that we celebrate this year.  Because of their sacrifice, you were born in independent African states. And just as the achievements of the last 50 years inspire you, the work you do today will inspire future generations.

So — I understand, Tumie, you like to Tweet.  (Laughter.)  And she shared words that have motivated so many — this is what Tumie said:  “If your actions inspire others to dream more, to learn more, to do more and become more, then you are a leader.”
So each of you are here today because you are a leader.  You’ve inspired other young people in your home countries; you’ve inspired us here in the United States.  The future is what you make it.  And so if you keep dreaming and keep working and keep learning and don’t give up, then I’m confident that your countries and the entire continent and the entire world will be better for it.

So thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)

All right, with that, I’m going to take questions.  Now, here are the rules — (laughter.)  People, everybody who has a question, they can raise their hand.  In order to be fair, I’m going to call girl, boy, girl, boy.  We’re going to alternate.  And try to keep your question relatively short; I’ll try to keep my answer relatively short, so I can answer as many questions as possible, because we have a limited amount of time.  Okay?

I’m going to start with this young lady, right here.  And please introduce yourself and tell me where you’re from also

Q    Okay.  Thank you very much.  I will express myself in French, if that is –

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s fine.  Somebody will translate for me?  Yes?  Go ahead.  Just make sure that you stop after each sentence, because otherwise she will forget what you had to say.

Q    Thank you very much.  (Speaks in French and is translated.) Mr. President, hello.  And hello, everybody.  I’m Fatima Sungo (phonetic) of Mali.  I do have a question for you and I look forward to getting your answer.  But before I do so, I’d like to begin by telling you, Mr. President, how truly honored and privileged we feel to be with you today, and how privileged we are to express the voices of African youth, of African young leaders, and of course fully appreciate your recognizing us and giving us the opportunity to be here, and also recognizing our own responsibility to take your voice back home.

I’d like to say that I’m convinced this is an important watershed moment, this is the beginning of important change, the wonderful initiative you had to call us all here.  I wonder when did you see that particular light?  When did you imagine that bringing us here would be such a good idea?  I’m wondering what your thought process was, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, one of the things that happens when you’re President is that other people have good ideas and then you take credit for them.  (Laughter.)  So I want to make sure that I don’t take credit for my ideas — for these ideas — because the truth is my staff works so hard in trying to find new ways that we can communicate not just to the heads of state, but also at the grassroots.

And the reason, I think, is because when you think about Africa, Africa is the youngest continent.  Many of the countries that you represent, half of the people are under 30.  And oftentimes if all you’re doing is talking to old people like me, then you’re not reaching the people who are going to be providing the energy, the new initiatives, the new ideas.  And so we thought that it would be very important for us to have an opportunity to bring the next generation of leaders together.

That’s point number one.  Point number two — and I’m going to be blunt occasionally during this forum, so I hope you don’t mind — sometimes the older leaders get into old habits, and those old habits are hard to break.  And so part of what we wanted to do was to communicate directly to people who may not assume that the old ways of doing business are the ways that Africa has to do business.

So in some of your countries, freedom of the press is still restricted.  There’s no reason why that has to be the case.  There’s nothing inevitable about that.  And young people are more prone to ask questions, why shouldn’t we have a free press?  In some of your countries, the problem of corruption is chronic.  And so people who have been doing business in your country for 20, 30 years, they’ll just throw up their hands and they’ll say, ah, that’s the way it is.

But Robert Kennedy had a wonderful saying, where he said, some people see things and ask why, and others see things that need changing and ask, why not.  And so I think that your generation is poised to ask those questions, “Why not?”  Why shouldn’t Africa be self-sustaining agriculturally?  There’s enough arable land that if we restructure how agriculture and markets work in Africa, not only could most countries in Africa feed themselves, but they could export those crops to help feed the world.  Why not?

New infrastructure — it used to be that you had to have telephone lines and very capital intensive in order to communicate.  Now we have the Internet and broadband and cell phones, so you — the entire continent may be able to leapfrog some other places that were more highly developed and actually reach into the future of communications in ways that we can’t even imagine yet.  Why not?

So that’s the purpose of this.  I also want to make sure that all of you are having an opportunity to meet each other, because you can reinforce each other as you are struggling and fighting in your own countries for a better future.  You will now have a network of people that help to reinforce what it is that you’re trying to do.  And you know that sometimes change makes you feel lonely.  Now you’ve got a group of people who can help reinforce what you’re doing.

Okay.  It’s a gentleman’s turn.  This is why there are leaders, everybody has something to say.  But you don’t have to snap.  No, no, no.  It’s a guy’s turn — this gentleman right here.

Q    Mr. President, my name is Bai Best (phonetic) from Liberia.  The late Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller was the first black — the first black psychiatrist in America and probably in the world.  In my country in Liberia, where there are a lot of great people who make landmark accomplishments both in their nation and in the world, many of them are not recognized for their accomplishments.  Today, Dr. Fuller’s name is etched where there is a medical — there is a psychiatric center named in his honor at a place in Boston.  There are many other young African and young Liberian talented people who have great ideas and who want to come back home and contribute to their countries, to the development of their peoples.  But many times, their efforts — their patriotic efforts — are stifled by corrupt or sometimes jealous officials in government and in other sectors.  It’s an age-old problem.  Many times, they want to seek — that basically leads them to seek greener pastures and better appreciation abroad instead of coming back home.  What are your thoughts on this?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, look, this is a problem that’s not unique to Africa.  Given different stages of development around the world, one of the problems that poorer countries often have is that the best educated and the most talented have opportunities elsewhere.  And so there’s what’s called the “brain drain” — people saying, I can make 10 times as much money if I’m a doctor in London as I can if I’m a doctor back home.

And so this is a historic problem.  Here is the interesting moment that we’re in, though — if you look at where the greatest opportunities are, they’re actually now in emerging markets.  There are countries in Africa that are growing 7, 8, 9 percent a year.  So if you’re an entrepreneur now with an idea, you may be able to grow faster and achieve more back home that you could here.

Now, it entails greater risk, so it may be safer to emigrate.  But it may be that you can actually achieve more, more quickly back home.  And so the question is for young leaders like yourselves, where do you want to have the most impact?  And you’re probably going to have more impact at home whether you’re a businessman or woman, or you are a doctor or you are an attorney, or you are an organizer.  That’s probably going to be the place where you can make the biggest change.

Now, you’re absolutely right, though, that the conditions back home have to be right where you can achieve these things.  So if you want to go back home and start a business, and it turns out that you have to pay too many bribes to just get the business started, at some point you may just give up.

And that’s why one of the things that we’re trying to do — working with my team — when we emphasize development, good governance is at the center of development.  It’s not separate.  Sometimes people think, well, that’s a political issue and then there’s an economic issue.  No.  If you have a situation where you can’t start a business or people don’t want to invest because there’s not a clear sense of rule of law, that is going to stifle development.

If farmers have so many middlemen to get their crops to market that they’re making pennies when ultimately their crops are being sold for $10, over time that stifles agricultural development in a country.  So what we want to do is make sure that in our interactions with your governments, we are constantly emphasizing this issue of good governance because I have confidence that you’ll be able to figure out what changes need to be made in your country.

I’ve always said the destiny of Africa is going to be determined by Africans.  It’s not going to be determined by me.  It’s not going to be determined by people outside of the continent.  It’s going to be determined by you.  All we can do is make sure that your voices are heard and you’re able to rise up and take hold of these opportunities.  If you do that, I think that there are going to be a lot of people who — even if they’re educated abroad — want to come home to make their mark.

All right.  Let’s see, I’m going to call on this young lady right here.

Q    (Speaks in Portuguese and is translated.)  Good afternoon, everyone.  And thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity.

THE PRESIDENT:  That sounds like Portuguese.  (Laughter.)

Q    It is, indeed, from Mozambique, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  Great.

Q    Knowing, Mr. President, that, of course, America is a reference point for democracy in the world, and that you, sir, are, indeed a protagonist in that context today, I would love to hear from you, sir, what you would recommend to the young people in Africa and to civil society, in particular, in terms of following principles of nonviolence and good governance and democratic principles in our country.  Because, of course, our reality is very often quite starkly different.  There are 80 percent abstentionism often in elections, and elections that, indeed, lack transparency.  And all too often lead, alas, to social conflict.  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, let me say, first of all, that if you are — just as I said that you can’t separate politics from economics, you can’t separate conflict from development.  So the constant conflict, often ethnically-based conflict, that has taken place in Africa is a profound detriment to development and it’s self-reinforcing.

If you have conflict and violence, that scares off investors.  That makes it more difficult for business people to create opportunities, which means that young people then don’t have work, which means that they are more prone to be recruited in violent conflicts.  And you can get a vicious cycle.

So I am a profound believer in not looking at violence as a solution to problems.  And I think the moral and ethical power that comes with nonviolence when properly mobilized is profound.

Number two, I think the most important thing that maybe young people here can do is to promote the values of openness, transparency, honest debate, civil disagreements within your own groups and your own organizations, because that forms good habits.  If you are part of an organization — and I’m going to speak to the men here, in particular — if you are part of an organization where you profess democracy but women don’t have an equal voice in your organization, then you’re a hypocrite, right? And that is something that — (applause.)  And that is something that we have to be honest about.  Oftentimes, women are not getting the same voice in African countries, despite the fact that they are carrying more than their fair share of burdens.

So within your own organizations, within your own networks, modeling good democratic practices, listening to people who you disagree with respectfully, making sure that everybody gets a seat at the table — all those things I think are very important.

Because part of what I’m going to — what I’m hoping for is that some of you will end up being leaders of your country some day.  And if you think about it, back in the 1960s, when all these — your grandparents, great-grandparents were obtaining independence, fighting for independence, the first leaders, they all said they were for democracy.  And then what ends up happening is you’ve been in power for a while and you say, well, I must be such a good ruler that it is for the benefit of the people that I need to stay here.  And so then you start changing the laws, or you start intimidating and jailing opponents.  And pretty soon, young people just like yourself — full of hope and promise — end up becoming exactly what they fought against.

So one of the things that I think everybody here has to really internalize is the notion that — I think it was Gandhi who once said you have to be the change that you seek.  You have to be the change that you seek.  And one of the wonderful things about the United States is that in my position as President there oftentimes where I get frustrated, I think I know more than some of my critics.  And yet, we have institutionalized the notion that those critics have every right to criticize me, no matter how unreasonable I think they may be.  And I have to stand before the people for an election, and I’m limited to two terms — it doesn’t matter how good a job I do.  And that’s good, because what that means is that we’ve got to — we’ve instituted a culture where the institutions of democracy are more important than any one individual.

And, now, it’s not as if we’re perfect.  Obviously, we’ve got all kinds of problems as well.  But what it does mean is that the peaceful transfer of power and the notion that people always have a voice — our trust in that democratic process is one that has to be embraced in all your countries as well.

Okay?  All right, it’s a gentleman’s turn.  Let me try to get this side of the table here.  This gentleman right here.  I’m not going to get everybody, so I apologize in advance.

Q    Thank you very much, Mr. President.  I’m from Malawi.  Mr. President, HIV/AIDS is greatly affecting development in Africa.  And if this continues, I’m afraid I think Africa has no future.  And I think the young people like us must bring change. And we really need a strong HIV prevention program.  But, again, access to treatment must be there.

I attended the recent World AIDS Conference in Vienna, and the critics were saying that the worst — the U.S. government is not supporting enough HIV/AIDS work in Africa through the PEPFAR and the Global Fund.  But, again, on the other side, other HIV/AIDS activists are saying that Africa on its own has not mobilized enough resources to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic and they are largely depending on the West.

I think the challenge for us as African young leaders is to make sure that this comes to an end and we really need to reduce the transmission.  I don’t know — from your perspective, what can we do to make sure that this comes to a stop?  Otherwise, it’s greatly affecting development in Africa.

THE PRESIDENT:  Good.  Well, let me start by just talking about the United States and what we’re doing.  I had some disagreements with my predecessor, but one of the outstanding things that President Bush did was to initiate the PEPFAR program.  It’s a huge investment in battling HIV/AIDS both with respect to prevention and also with respect to treatment.  Billions of dollars were committed.  We have built off of that.

So when you hear critics — what the critics are saying is that although I’ve increased the funding of the PEPFAR program, they would like to see it increased even more, which I’m sympathetic to, given the fact that the need is so great.  But understand I’ve increased it; I haven’t decreased it — at a time when the United States is suffering from the worst economic — just coming out of the worst economic recession that we’ve seen since the 1930s.  Nevertheless, because of our commitment to this issue, we’ve actually increased funding.

Now, we have couched it in a broader initiative we call the Global Health Initiative.  Because even as we’re battling HIV/AIDS, we want to make sure that we are thinking not only in terms of treatment, but also in terms of prevention and preventing transmission.

We’re never going to have enough money to simply treat people who are constantly getting infected.  We’ve got to have a mechanism to stop the transmission rate.  And so one of the things we’re trying to do is to build greater public health infrastructure, find what prevention programs are working, how can we institutionalize them, make them culturally specific — because not every program is going to be appropriate for every country.

I will say that in Africa, in particular, one thing we do know is that empowering women is going to be critical to reducing the transmission rate.  We do know that.  Because so often women, not having any control over sexual practices and their own body, end up having extremely high transmission rates.

So the bottom line is we’re going to focus on prevention, building a public health infrastructure.  We’re still going to be funding, at very high levels, antiviral drugs.  But keep in mind, we will never have enough money — it will be endless, an endless effort if the transmission rates stay high and we’re just trying to treat people after their sick.

It’s the classic story of a group of people come upon all these bodies in a stream.  And everybody jumps in and starts pulling bodies out, but one wise person goes downstream to see what’s exactly happening that’s causing all these people to drown or fall in the water.  And that’s I think what we have to do, is go downstream to see how can we reduce these transmission rates overall.

And obviously — when I visited Kenya, for example — just in terms of education — Michelle and I, we both got tested near the village where my father was born.  We got publicly tested so that we would know what our status was.  That was just one example of the kinds of educational mechanisms that we can use that hopefully can make some difference.

All right?  Okay, it’s a woman’s turn.  Okay, this one right here.

Q    Thank you, very much, Mr. President.  And greetings from Ghana.  We are looking forward fervently to 2014 –  (laughter) — for a repeat.  And I recollect that I was hosting a radio program the day of the match.  And we have a football pundit in Ghana — he doesn’t speak English quite well, but very passionate.  And so I was interviewing him about what the psyche of our boys should be ahead of the match.  And he said to me, “This is not war, it is football.  If it were to be war, then maybe we should be afraid because the might of America is more than us.”  (Laughter.)  This is football.  They should go out there and be the best that they could be.  And they did.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, they did an excellent job.  They were a great team.

Q    Mr. President, my question now is that I hear a lot of young African leaders wonder how committed America would be to a partnership.  I hear those who are cynical about the notion of partnership.  They ask — and always they ask, partnership?  What kind of fair partnership can exist between a strong and a weak nation?

And so as we prepare ourselves for the future, we ask the same question of America:  How committed is your country to ensuring that the difficult decisions that young people have to make about trade, about agriculture, about support, are made — to the extent that they may not be in the interest of America?  Because they tell me also that America will protect its interest over and above all else.  Is America committed to ensuring a partnership that might not necessarily be beneficial to America, but truly beneficial to the sovereign interest of the countries that we represent?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, let me say this.  All countries look out for their interests.  So — and I’m the President of the United States, so my job is to look out for the people of the United States.  That’s my job, right?  (Applause.)

Now, I actually think, though, that the interests of the United States and the interests of the continent of Africa greatly overlap.  We have a huge interest in seeing development throughout Africa — because we are a more mature economy, Africa is a young and growing economy, and if you can buy more iPods and buy more products and buy more services and buy more tractors from us, that we can sell to a fast-growing continent, that creates jobs here in the United States of America.

We have a huge interest in your public health systems because if we’re reducing greatly HIV/AIDS transmissions in Africa, then that will have a positive effect on HIV rates internationally, because of the transmigration of diseases back and forth in an international world.  And not to mention, if I’m not spending all this money on PEPFAR, that’s money I can spend somewhere else.  So I’m going to be incentivized to see Africa do well.  That’s in our interest.

And the truth of the matter is, is that whereas with some regions of the world, we do have some genuine conflicts of interest — let’s say on trade, for example — the truth is that the United States, we don’t have huge conflicts when it comes to trade because, frankly, the trade between the United States and Africa is so small, so modest, that very few U.S. companies, U.S. commercial interests are impacted.

That’s why AGOA, our trade arrangement with Africa — we can eliminate tariffs and subsidies and allow all sorts of goods to come in partly because you are not our primary competition.

Now, I don’t want to pretend that there aren’t ever going to be conflicts.  There will be.  There’s going to be difference in world views.  There are going to be some agricultural products where there are certain interests in the United States or there are certain interests in Europe that want to prevent those from coming in, even though, in the aggregate, it would not have a huge impact on the U.S. economy.  And so there are going to be occasional areas of tension.  But overall, the reason you should have confidence that we want a partnership is because your success will enhance our position rather than reduce it.

Also Africa has some of our most loyal friends.  Every survey that’s taken, when you ask what continent generally has the most positive views about America, it turns out Africa generally has a positive view of America and positive experiences.  So I think that you should feel confident even if I’m not President that the American people genuinely want to see Africa succeed.

What the American people don’t want is to feel like their efforts at helping are wasted.  So if at a time of great constraint, we are coming up with aid, those aid dollars need to go to countries that are actually using them effectively.  And if they’re not using them effectively, then they should go to countries that are.

And one of the things that I’ve said to my development team is I want us to have high standards in terms of performance and evaluation when we have these partnerships — because a partnership is a two-way street.  It means that, on the one hand, we’re accountable to you and that we have to listen to you and make sure that any plans that we have, have developed indigenously.  On the other hand, it also means you’re accountable.  So you can’t just say, give me this, give me that, and then if it turns out that it’s not working well, that’s not your problem.  Right?  It has to be a two-way street.

Okay, looks like this side has not gotten a question here.  So how about this gentleman right here.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President — I’m from Zimbabwe.  Currently our government is in a transition between the former ruling party Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change.  And within this same context, Zimbabwe is currently under restrictive measures, especially for those who are party in line with Robert Mugabe under the ZIDERA Act.  How has been the success of ZIDERA — the formation of the inclusive government?  Because in Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe is still using the rhetoric of sanctions, racist, property rights abuse, human rights abuse, in violation to the rule of law.  How has been the success of that towards the implementation — the success or the growth of young people?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, you probably have a better answer than me.  So you should be sharing with our team what you think would make the most sense.  I’ll be honest with you — I’m heartbroken when I see what’s happened in Zimbabwe.  I think Mugabe is an example of a leader who came in as a liberation fighter and — I’m just going to be very blunt — I do not see him serving his people well.  And the abuses, the human rights abuses, the violence that’s been perpetrated against opposition leaders I think is terrible.

Now, Changerai has tried to work — despite the fact that he himself has been beaten and imprisoned, he has now tried to work to see if there is a gradual transition that might take place.  But so far, the results have not been what we had hoped.

And this always poses a difficult question for U.S. foreign policy because, on the one hand, we don’t want to punish the people for the abuses of a leader; on the other hand, we have very little leverage other than saying, if there are just systematic abuses by a government, we are not going to deal with them commercially, we’re not going to deal with them politically, in ways that we would with countries that are observing basic human rights principles.

And so there have been discussions when I’ve traveled with leaders in the Southern African region about whether or not sanctions against Zimbabwe are or are not counterproductive.  I will tell you I would love nothing more than to be able to open up greater diplomatic relationships and economic and commercial relationships with Zimbabwe.  But in order to do so, we’ve got to see some signal that it will not simply entrench the same past abuses but rather will move us in a new direction that actually helps the people.

And Zimbabwe is a classic example of a country that should be the breadbasket for an entire region.  It’s a spectacular country.  Now, it had to undergo a transition from white minority rule that was very painful and very difficult.  But they have chosen a path that’s different than the path that South Africa chose.

South Africa has its problems, but from what everybody could see during the World Cup, the potential for moving that country forward as a multiracial, African democracy that can succeed on the world stage, that’s a model that so far at least Zimbabwe has not followed.  And that’s where I’d like to see it go.  All right?

How much more time do I have, guys?  Last question?  I’m sorry — last question.  Last question.  No, it’s a young lady’s turn.  This one right here.

Q    Good afternoon, Mr. President, your excellencies.  I am from Somalia.  I came all the way here with one question, and that is, living in conflict in a country that has confused the whole world, and being part of the diaspora that went back to risk our lives in order to make Somalia a better place, especially with what we’re going through right now — how much support do we expect from the U.S.?  And not support just in terms of financially or aid, but support as an ear, as a friend, as somebody who hears and listens to those of us who are putting our lives and our families at risk to defend humanity.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think you will have enormous support from the people of the United States when it comes to trying to create a structure and framework in Somalia that works for the Somali people.

Now, the history of Somalia over the last 20 years has been equally heartbreaking, if not more so.  You have not had a effective, functioning government that can provide basic services.  It’s been rife with conflict.  And now the entire region is threatened because of radical extremists who have taken root in Somalia, taking advantage of what they perceive to be a failing state, to use that as a base to launch attacks, most recently in Uganda.

And obviously the United States expresses its deepest condolences to the lives that were lost in Kampala — at the very moment of the World Cup.  And it offered two contrasting visions. You have this wonderful, joyous celebration in South Africa at the same time as you have a terrorist explosion in Kampala.

So we desperately want Somalia to succeed.  And this is another example of where our interests intersect.  If you have extremist organizations taking root in Somalia, ultimately that can threaten the United States as well as Uganda, as well as Kenya, as well as the entire region.

So right now you’ve got a transitional government that is making some efforts.  I don’t think anybody expects Somalia anytime in the next few years to suddenly be transformed into a model democracy.  Whatever governance structures take place in Somalia have to be aware of the tribal and traditional structures and clan structures that exist within Somalia.  But certainly what we can do is create a situation where people — young people are not carrying around rifles, shooting each other on the streets.  And we want to be a partner with Somalia in that effort, and we will continue to do so.

And some of it is financial, some of it is developmental, some of it is being able to help basic infrastructure.  In some cases, we may try to find a portion of the country that is relatively stable and start work there to create a model that the rest of the country can then look at and say, this is a different path than the one that we’re taking right now.

But in the end, I think that this metaphor of the success of the World Cup and the bombing shows that each of you are going to be confronted with two paths.  There’s going to be a path that takes us into a direction of more conflict, more bloodshed, less economic development, continued poverty even as the rest of the world races ahead — or there’s a vision in which people come together for the betterment and development of their own country.

And for all the great promise that’s been fulfilled over the last 50 years, I want you to understand — because I think it’s important for us to be honest with ourselves — Africa has also missed huge opportunities for too long.  And I’ll just give you one example.

When my father traveled to the United States and got his degree in the early ’60s, the GDP of Kenya was actually on partner, maybe actually higher than the GDP of South Korea.  Think about that.  All right?  So when I was born, Kenya per capita might have been wealthier than South Korea.  Now it’s not even close.  Well, that’s 50 years that was lost in terms of opportunities.  When it comes to natural resources, when it comes to the talent and potential of the people, there’s no reason why Kenya shouldn’t have been on that same trajectory.

And so 50 years from now, when you look back you want to make sure that the continent hasn’t missed those opportunities as well.  We want to make sure of that as well.  And the United States wants to listen to you and work with you.  And so when you go back and you talk to your friends and you say, what was the main message the President had — we are rooting for your success, and we want to work with you to achieve that success, but ultimately success is going to be in your hands.  And being a partner means that we can be there by your side, but we can’t do it for you.

Okay, thank you very much, everybody.  Thank you.

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What Are You Doing For Your AFRICAN Country?!?!

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Holla back & let us know that you entered tow win….

Muah & ♥ ya for it

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Oh this is totally exciting news…. Wyclef Jean for President of Haiti?!?

According to the folks at MTV:

Wyclef Jean’s family releases statement saying that he ‘has not announced his intent to run for Haitian president.’

Ever since a massive earthquake struck his homeland of Haiti on January 12, former Fugees leader Wyclef Jean has been at the forefront of relief efforts for the perennially impoverished Caribbean nation.

But now the 37-year-old rapper, who was born on the outskirts of the country’s now-devastated capital of Port-au-Prince and who helped anchor MTV’s “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon, appears to be mulling an even larger role in the rebuilding of his ancestral home. Rumors have emerged over the past week that ‘Clef — who was named ambassador-at-large for the country by current President Rene Preval in 2007 — is considering a run for president.

Haiti’s new president will be chosen in elections happening on November 28; the winner is expected to be sworn in on February 7, 2011. Preval is barred from seeking re-election because he will have served two terms, which is the maximum in Haiti, once his current five-year term ends next year.

While Wyclef, who is likely the most well-known potential candidate, hasn’t made any definitive statement about his intentions, his family released a statement in response to the speculation: “Wyclef’s commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless, and he will remain its greatest supporter regardless of whether he is part of the government moving forward. At this time, Wyclef Jean has not announced his intent to run for Haitian president. If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately.”

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Jean — who was born in Haiti but grew up in Brooklyn — said he was planning to be involved in the elections, but not necessarily as a candidate.

“Do I have political intentions? At this time, no,” he said. “But what I do have is a movement — it’s called Face à Face,, ‘Face to Face.’ The youth population … we are going to encourage them to vote.” Jean has raised money for Haitian youth through his Yele Haiti Foundation, which hired a new accounting firm after allegations arose about some financial irregularities in the wake of the January quake.

The AP noted that even if Jean did change his mind and decide to throw his hat in the ring by the August 7 deadline, his celebrity would not guarantee an easy road as a candidate in a country where elections are often contentious and violent. There is also the matter of the massive destruction caused by the quake, which has displaced more than 1.5 million Haitians in a country that has not had a functioning economy in decades.

In order to enter the race, Jean would have to prove he has resided in Haiti for five consecutive years, owns property in the country and has never been a citizen of any other country than Haiti; it was unclear at press time if Jean fits those criteria.

Peep video below on why we ♥ Wyclef Jean & why he would be so perfect for President of Haiti and Lauryn Hill as his Veep!!

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Do You Think That Wyclef Jean Should Run For President Of Haiti?!?!?

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Holla back & let us know that you did….

Muah & ♥ ya for it

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According to CNN:

Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) — Nigeria’s ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua, who gave amnesty to armed militants in the troubled oil-rich Niger Delta region, died Wednesday, the country’s information minister said. He was 58.

President Yar’Adua had not been seen in public since November, when he went to Saudi Arabia for treatment of an inflammation of tissue around his heart. He was diagnosed with that condition, acute pericarditis, last fall after he complained of chest pain.

He returned to Nigeria in February but had remained out of sight.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has served as the country’s acting leader since Yar’Adua fell ill.

President Yar’Adua took office in 2007 in an election mired in controversy and accusations of vote-rigging.

“There was ballot snatching, voters were molested, voters were beaten … and also payment inducement to vote for certain candidates,” said Eneruvie Enakoko of the Civil Liberties Organization, a human rights group in Lagos.

The president, a soft-spoken and unassuming figure who did not bask in the media spotlight like past leaders of the West African nation, pledged to fight to improve the country of 150 million people despite the accusations.

“Our collective goal is to deliver for our children a Nigeria better, stronger, more peaceful, more secure and more prosperous than we met it,” Yar’Adua said.

President Barack Obama issued a statement late Wednesday expressing his condolences to President Yar’Adua’s family and the Nigerian people.

“President Yar’Adua worked to promote peace and stability in Africa through his support of Nigerian peacekeeping efforts as well as his strong criticism of undemocratic actions in the region,” Obama said in the statement. “He was committed to creating lasting peace and prosperity within Nigeria’s own borders, and continuing that work will be an important part of honoring his legacy.”

His election followed wide support from his predecessor, leading critics to label him a puppet of the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

After he was elected, President Yar’Adua replaced some of Obasanjo’s top officials, including the head of the army, a move analysts said was aimed at shedding off his predecessor’s influence.

One of President Yar’Aduas biggest successes was offering amnesty to militants in the troubled oil-rich Niger Delta region, a move that brought fragile peace to the area after years of conflict. The well-armed Niger Delta rebels have been battling Nigeria’s armed forces over oil profits, which they say are unequally distributed.

While he has hospitalized in Saudi Arabia, the militants called off the truce, dealing a blow to plans to end violence that has crippled oil production in the nation.

Analysts say he did little to institutionalize reform in a country where two-thirds of the population lives on less than a dollar a day.

“Because many people feel disillusioned economically and as long as they have those sentiments — I think the risk of radical uprisings in places like northern Nigeria and certainly southern Nigeria in the Delta will continue regardless of who is in power,” said Rolake Akinola, an analyst at Control Risks West Africa.

President Yar’Adua, a former chemistry teacher, was married twice and has nine children.

Please keep the people of Nigeria in your thoughts & prayers as they mourn the loss of their President.

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So the blogsphere is abuzz with First Lady Michelle Obama’s tres chic red gown that she wore at the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner this past Saturday.

She wore  a hand-draped, off the shoulder, bright red matte jersey gown by Prabal Gurung. Check the fabness that is our first lady…

♥ that she continues to support young designers! For accessories, she wore an an assortment of Bochic jewels, including a pair of carved tourmaline earrings…

…white bakelite cuff (top cuff), constructed from white bakelite, gold filigree and rose-cut diamonds. Price tag for this cuff is U.S.$17,500!

She also wore a Bochic tourmaline & diamond ring (I think to balance the look she was sans her wedding ring)…

And finally she wore a gold cuff (bottom cuff) by Sutra Jewels, created from 10 carats of raspberry tourmaline, flanked by rose cut diamonds in a star-burst motif…

How uber fab does she look? Holla back & let us know your thoughts….

Muah & ♥ ya for it!

Photo: Getty Images/Zimbio

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Folks hit up the nations capital for the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner! Washington D.C. lit up with “who’s who” in the world of politics & entertainment. The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was held on Saturday night at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.  The annual dinner featured comedian Jay Leno and was attended by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, politicians, celebs…

Gabby Sidibe

Rosario Dawson

Donatella Versace

Omorosa (hello!)

Gayle King

Jessica Simpson

Tracy Morgan

Terrence Howard

Common

The Rev. Al Sharpton

Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and his wife Michelle Fenty

Fab times…

LOL @ President Obama! He went in on errybody including Jay Leno, Michael Steele aka the “notorious G.O.P“, John McCain “adios amigos” & President Obama’s “disappointment” for not getting the Nobel Prize for Physics! – ♥’ed his dinner speech!

How funny were President Obama & Jay Leno? Holla back & let us know your thoughts….

Muah & ♥ ya for it!

Photo: Getty Images/Zimbio

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So I truly struggled with this post for so many reasons.  The first one being that I am part of a generation that really stands at the cusp of greatness! Not that previous generations did not achieve greatness. They did!  But I like to think that they helped to lay the foundation for my generation to potentially advance humanity even further so that the people of this world are “not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character“. So while we stand on the shoulders of giants, much lies ahead of us in the way of world peace. Black, White & all colors in between, we are all here to stay. No annihilation of any one group of people can be tolerated in this day and age. Period. Instead, our issues are ideological as in for instance, how do we best solve the healthcare issue because Black, White, we need all need adequate healthcare.

I also struggled because as one of Africa’s youngest democracies, racial integration is still pretty fragile in South Africa. Constant media reports of violent crimes work against the peace efforts of the people of South Africa. They are trying you know and are quick to let you know that, “be as mindful & aware of your surroundings in Johannesburg, as you would be in New York City, London, Paris, Lagos, Hong Kong or Tokyo. Coz it’s real in the field regardless of where you are in the world.“

So it is very unfortunate that the South African based Afrikaner far-right leader Eugene Terre’Blanche was killed a week ago by two farm workers over reportedly a R600 (or US$82.60) wage dispute. Not this when the country is working diligently to restore racial integration post-apartheid and when it will be host to the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup this coming June. People have to be assured of peace & safety even though the perpetrators, the two young men, aged 21 and 15, reportedly turned themselves in to the police after they committed the crime.

It did not help that last month, controversial ANC Youth Leader, Julius Malema sang a song that has since been banned in South Africa. The ANC is reportedly going to appeal this ruling based on the “historical context” of the song… Anyway, the problem with the court ruling is just that. In the absence of political reprimand, the legal courts were forced to step in. Very regrettable because that is censure of speech. Inevitably, this sets precedence for more censure!

Unfortunately the late Mr. Terreblanche, founder and leader of the AWB (Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging) did not endear himself with majority South Africans and with the rest of the world with his racial ideologies. Take a look at some of his rhetoric…

Interesting…well here is some background on the worldwide effort to end apartheid in South Africa. “Have You Heard From Johannesburg” is seven documentary stories, produced and directed by Connie Field, chronicling the history of the global anti-apartheid movement that took on South Africa’s entrenched apartheid regime and its international supporters who considered South Africa an ally in the Cold War. The documentary, divided into three parts (approximately two & half hours long), begins its run at the Film Forum in New York City this Wednesday, April 14th, and ends next week Tuesday, April 27th…

From the Office of the President of South Africa: President Jacob G. Zuma

I have learnt with shock of the brutal killing of Mr. Eugene Terreblanche last night, allegedly by people who were working for him.

Two suspects have now been arrested and police are still doing their further investigations. The Minister and the National Commissioner of Police have already visited the scene.

We strongly condemn such acts of violence. People should use legal and peaceful means to resolve differences of any nature including labour disputes. We should uphold the right to life that is enshrined in the Constitution and abide by the rule of law at all times.

As government, we convey our profound sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Terreblanche during this difficult time. I have personally communicated to the Terreblanche family and have spoken to Mr Terreblanche’s daughter and conveyed my condolences.

I call upon our people, black and white to remain calm, and allow police and other organs of state to do their work. This is not the time for speculation that can worsen the situation. It is the time for us to unite all of us, black and white and put the nation and the country first.

South Africa belongs to all who live in it, regardless of race, colour and political affiliation. This is the fundamental principle upon which our nation is founded. It is the fundamental principle that will keep this nation together always, united in its diversity.

We said last week during our visit to the Bethlehem settlement in Pretoria West that we need to seriously discuss heritage and reconciliation further in our country in a manner that cements our ties as one diverse nation.

None of our problems are insurmountable, we have come very far already as a nation and we have a great future together.

We just need to be mature and work well together as various parties and groups to lead our people to a prosperous, united and harmonious future. All leaders must act responsibly and work with government to control emotions and anger during this period.

Leaders and organisations must not to use Mr Terreblanche’s death to score political points. Instead, they must work harder to unite our people.

What are you doing to improve race relations in your community?!?!? Please let us know and leave your comments below.

Muchas gracias amigos!

Muah & ♥ ya for it!

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Finally the moment we all have been waiting for! Gosh darn-it by a 219-212 vote and after more than a year of nasty partisan debate with all 178 Republicans in opposition, along with 34 opposing Democrats, the House passed the Senate’s Health-Care Reform Bill. This Health-care reform debate has just been a harrowing experience for most Americans and I am so glad that President Obama finally sealed this historic bill (although the full effects of the $940 billion healthcare bill will not be felt until 2014, some provisions will go into effect this year)…

So what are your thoughts on the just recently passed Health Care Reform Bill? Please let us know your thoughts & leave your comments below!

Muah & ♥ ya for it!

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Colin Fernandez penned this article in the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail:

Nelson Mandela has been accused by his former wife of betraying South Africa’s black population.

In a savage attack, Winnie Mandela said he had done nothing for the poor and should not have accepted the Nobel peace prize with the man who jailed him, FW de Klerk.

I think I nearly lost my mind when I read Colin Fernandez’s use of  the words “savage” & “attack” to describe Mama Winne Mandela’s alleged accusation of Baba Nelson Mandela. I am appalled that in the 21st Century, a journalist would still those words to describe Africans or people of African descent! Particularly troubling to me is the use of the word savage. What was so “savage” about her “alleged” accusation (that is still to be confirmed by the ANC itself)? I was so mortified that her sentiments were reduced to “savage attack”. Strong, harsh, scathing, yes. But savage, NO! Absolutely not!

Mr. Fernandez please allow me to refresh your memory on the definition of the word, savage: fierce, ferocious, or cruel; untamed: as in savage beasts. uncivilized; barbarous: as in savage tribes. Regardless of what you may feel towards Mama Winnie Mandela, the word “savage” in this context is insensitive because it conjures up images of Africa/Africans that I fight to dispel. It was hard to read the article further (real talk)…

The 73-year-old said her ex-husband had become a ‘corporate foundation’ who was ‘wheeled out’ only to raise money for the ANC party he once led.

She said Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a cretin and claimed the sacrifices of Steve Biko and others in the fight against apartheid were being overlooked.

The comments were made in an interview yesterday with Nadira Naipaul, the wife of novelist V S Naipaul.

Mrs Mandela became notorious in 1991 when she was jailed for six years for the kidnap of Stompie Moeketsi – a sentence later cut to a fine.

Stompie, 14, had been murdered three years earlier by members of Mrs Mandela’s bodyguard, the Mandela United Football Club.

She also caused outrage by endorsing the punishment of apartheid collaborators with ‘ necklacing’ – putting burning tyres around their necks.

Yesterday she said: ‘This name Mandela is an albatross around the necks of my family.

‘You all must realise that Mandela was not the only man who suffered. There were many others, hundreds who languished in prison and died.

‘Mandela did go to prison and he went in there as a young revolutionary but look what came out.

‘Mandela let us down. He agreed to a bad deal for the blacks. Economically we are still on the outside. The economy is very much “white”.

‘I cannot forgive him for going to receive the Nobel with his jailer de Klerk. Hand in hand they went. Do you think de Klerk released him from the goodness of his heart?

‘He had to. The times dictated it, the world had changed.’

The Mandelas, who divorced in 1996, were married for 38 years – although together for only five.

Mrs Mandela criticised her country’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee – which she appeared before in 1997 and which implicated her in gross violations of human rights.

She said: ‘What good does the truth do? How does it help to anyone to know where and how their loved ones are killed or buried?

‘That Bishop Tutu who turned it all into a religious circus came here. He had a cheek to tell me to appear.

‘I told him that he and his other like-minded cretins were only sitting there because of our struggle and me. Look what they make him do. The great Mandela. He has no control or say any more.

‘They put that huge statue of him right in the middle of the most affluent white area of Johannesburg. Not here [in Soweto] where we spilled our blood.

‘Mandela is now like a corporate foundation. He is wheeled out globally to collect the money.’

She said her daughters, Zenani, 51, and Zindzi, 50, had to struggle through red tape to speak to their 91-year-old father, who led South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

Wow! All kinds of wow! I am told Mama Winnie Mandela is in the U.S on a visit. Peep her recent CNN interview with Roland Martin (thank you Ms. Makwakwa for heads up on this video!)…

“Africa is the new Asia“

Waiting to get some inside scoop on the alleged accusation story. Stay tuned!

Jennifer Hudson at Sir Elton John’s Oscar After Party

As you know, plans are going forward with the biopic movie based on Winnie Mandela. Jennifer Hudson is still scheduled to play the lead role of Winnie Mandela in the movie despite rumblings from South African actors. Wonder if this latest alleged accusation will make it in the movie.

Am I being overly sensitive about the word “savage” or what? Holla back & share your thoughts on this developing story! Muchas gracias!

Muah & ♥ ya for it!

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed the National Governors Association to the White House for the 2010 Governors Ball this past Sunday. This was the first large White House dinner in 2010. Fun & light hearted speech by the President!

Video above also includes a toast by Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont….Here, Here!….Fun times!

First Lady Michelle wore a black georgette tiered ruffle gown by fashion designer Thakoon.

No word of gate crashers at this event…phew!

Also the First Lady recently sat down for a Washington Post interview about her Let’s Move initiative to help combat childhood obesity…

For the interview, Mrs. Obama wore a Moschino sheath dress…

Fabulous all around! Leave your comments below!

Muah & gracias!

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Happy birthday to Justin Combs, Rihanna &  President Robert Mugabe!

Zimbabwe’s Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency, President Robert Mugabe celebrated his 86th birthday today! He is reported to have celebrated quietly with his family today. Amidst a protracted economic meltdown, political fallout with the newly formed unity government and strikes, I am not sure how the formal celebrations will be funded or even go down but will keeping our ears to the ground for that!

Rihanna celebrated her 22nd birthday & Los Angeles Dodger, Matt Kemp (her boyfriend maybe?) reportedly threw her a birthday bash for her in Phoenix, Arizona yesterday!  “Private & intimate” was the theme for Rihanna’s birthday celebrations….Read More

And of course, Puff Daddy’s first born son, Justin Combs held a very lavish “Sweet 16″ birthday bash at M2 in New York City last month! The party, whose theme was “The Prince of New York” had an elaborate video introduction of the birthday boy, celebrity appearances and performances (Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj, Fabolous, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Jada Kiss, Trey Songz, Heavy D), a $10,000 check that Justin so “generously” donated to Yele Haiti, a bowtied Maybach with a driver and of course, the hottest chic in the game for a date….Nicki Minaj! How do you top that?

MTV aired his “Sweet 16″ birthday party earlier today, check the video below…