To the Point
Barack Obama’s Outreach to Africa
The first African-American president waited until his second term to hold his first African summit. But this week, he hosted almost 50 African heads of state and American business leaders, hoping the US can catch up in the world’s last great emerging market.
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenBarack Obama hosted almost 50 African heads of state and American business leaders, hoping the US can catch up in the world’s last great emerging market. The President’s “extraordinary event” featured 37 billion dollars in promised development and investment. It was also about security—internal and global. Will American business make good on promised investment? Can the US compete with China’s economic foothold? Also, the Obama White House is considering humanitarian airdrops for Christians and the Yezidi in Iraq who are dying of heat and thirst on a mountain. And, Vladimir Putin is fighting back.
Banner Image: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a news conference at the close of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the U.S. State Department in Washington August 6, 2014. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
