Clinton urges Africa to embrace democracy

Описание: (1 Aug 2012) STORYLINE:
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is challenging African leaders to embrace democracy and partnerships with responsible foreign powers to improve living standards and address core causes of extremism.
Clinton told a university audience in Dakar on Wednesday that unlike other countries, America is committed to a sustainable partnership with Africa.
Speaking to university students, lawmakers and diplomats in Senegal's capital, Clinton challenged Africa's elite to fully respect human rights and she warned of the consequences of rampant abuses, corruption and intolerance that breed contempt and contribute to instability.
Her comments included veiled references to China, which is rapidly expanding its involvement in Africa in search of energy and resources for its own growing economy.
Her speech coincided with the first major storm of the rainy season, a positive sign in a place where drought is responsible for a food crisis.
Clinton complemented Senegal, the only mainland West African country never to have experienced a coup, for its democratic history and recent elections in which a long standing incumbent lost and handed over power to the victor, Macky Sall, whom she met as part of her visit.
In what could be seen as praise for Senegal's politicians Clinton acknowledged that even the bitterest political rivals can cooperate if they concentrate on the greater good of their nation.
"I'm often asked all over the world how I could agree to serve in President Obama's cabinet after we had campaigned so hard against each other. I was trying to beat him, he was trying to beat me and he succeeded. And I always give the same answer: because we both love our country," she said.
Clinton was in Dakar on the first leg of an 11-day African tour that will take her to at least six other nations, including Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Ghana.
In Ghana, she will attend the state funeral for the late president, John Atta Mills, who died last week.
After visiting Uganda, Clinton will travel to Kenya, where in addition to urging leaders to hold peaceful, free and fair national elections in 2013, she will meet Somali officials and underscore US support for completing a planned political transition later in August.
After a brief stop in Malawi, Clinton then heads to South Africa, where she will continue a strategic dialogue with South African officials, promote US business in the country and pay her respects to former President Nelson Mandela, who recently celebrated his 94th birthday.


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