With U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton concluding her African visit last week, the South
Africans are doubting her real purposes, local media said on Monday.
"When Barack Obama made his first trip to Africa in 2009 as the
newly-elected U.S. president, it was expected that South Africa
would be his next on his hectic schedule before his first four- year
term ends," the Business Day said in its editorial.
On July 11, 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in the
western African country of Ghana for a historical two-day visit.
Many South Africans believed that the Obama administration would
actively engage with South Africa, because the country is the
largest economic entity on the African continent and the world was
expecting it could play a decisive role in shaping a prosperous
Africa.
However, the U.S. official visiting South Africa last week was
its secretary of state instead of the president as Obama's first
term is near the expiration, the editorial complained.
On Aug. 10, Hillary Clinton wrapped up her 11-day tour of six
nations in Africa, where she paid a visit to South Africa on Aug. 5-
8.
The editorial stressed that Clinton's visit came as Obama was in
the midst of a campaign to win a second four-year term against the
Republican presidential candidate. "One has to wonder if Clinton's
visit did not merely amount to a political footnote to make up for
lost ground, as Obama looks to burnish his Africa credentials,
especially with the African American voters in the run-up to the
presidential election in November," the editorial said.
The editorial criticized Clinton for highlighting the mere
lateral responsibility of South Africa on the world's economic
development.
Clinton said in her speech during her visit to South Africa, "The
world looks to South Africa to play a constructive role in promoting
a global economic architecture that benefits everyone."
The editorial pointed out that "Africa and the world looks to the
United States to follow its words with real action and orchestrate
the much-needed transformation of multilateral institutions like the
World Bank and the International Monetary Fund."
"When Clinton talked about promoting a global economic
architecture that benefits everyone, one would hope that she also
recognizes what the United States has not done to bring about real
change to the world's economic architecture, " said the editorial.
The article also pointed out that "sustainable clean economic
growth" suggested by Clinton was unpractical.
Clinton said in a speech in South Africa, "We both want clean and
sustainable growth that does not pollute our water or our air. We
both want to create jobs at home while promoting a global economic
recovery."
The editorial said, "These are lofty goals, and there certainly
is an opportunity to make significant strides in their pursuit, if
promises are followed by action from both sides." "I would have
liked Clinton to provide more clarity on what the United States is
going to do to help South Africa grow entrepreneurship, especially
among millions of unemployed youth," the editorial said.
