President Obama welcomed four freely-elected African leaders to the White House Friday, saying democracy was “vital to a stable and prosperous Africa.”
“Africa does not need strongmen; African needs strong institutions,” said the president, who met the leaders of Niger, Benin, Guinea and Cote D’Ivoire for talks on issues including trade, development, famine and ongoing partnerships with the U.S. , according to pool reports.
The leaders -- Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, Boni Yayi of Benin, Alpha Condé of Guinea and Alassane Ouattara of Cote D’Ivoire – were hailed by Obama as “effective models for the continent.”
The leaders were chosen to visit the White House for winning democratically held elections, an administration official said. Corruption is rife in many African countries’ political and electoral systems.
The president said discussions were “very productive” adding: “I emphasized that the U.S. has been and will continue to be a stalwart partner.” The president was “engaged” during the talks on human rights abuses, a readout said.
Obama encouraged both U.S.-African trade but also inter-African trade, saying the nations can partner together, and with the U.S., “to divert the looming humanitarian crisis in East Africa.”
The elections in Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, and Guinea over the last eight months have replaced authoritarian regimes with new democratically elected governments, the official said, adding that the reelection of Benin’s president stands as a “model of a well-rooted democratic tradition.”
“The meeting is an opportunity to underscore the importance of moving from holding free elections to developing strong democratic institutions and checks and balances, promoting economic growth and development and leaving a positive legacy for their successors,” they added.
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