GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Visiting Africa on a goodwill mission, first lady Michelle Obama defended her husband Friday against criticism that he isn't paying enough attention to the continent. She said her weeklong trip to South Africa and Botswana is proof of the president's commitment to Africa.
"This trip is a reflection, a direct
reflection, of his support and his interest and his view of the importance of
Africa to the world and to the future of the world," she said.
"That's why I'm here."
Given that Barack Obama is America's first black
president and his father was from Kenya, many had hoped to see stepped-up U.S.
involvement on the vast continent during his presidency. Africans also longed
for Obama to visit so they could welcome home a U.S president they consider one
of their sons.
He did visit, stopping in Ghana in 2009. But he
stayed less than 24 hours and has not been back to Africa.
The first lady said people expect a lot from her
overworked husband and that some won't ever think what he does is enough.
"He would love to be here but there's a lot of
work to do on the domestic front," she told four American reporters
traveling with her. "And as president it's hard to predict and plan
internationally because you've got domestic stuff hitting you left and
right".
"Africa's absolutely important to him,"
she added. "I understand why people feel like they want more. It's a big
continent, a lot of challenges. But I think his record and the number of senior
officials who've spent so much time in Africa ... that is a reflection of this
administration's commitment to this continent."
White House officials previously have pointed to
the president's involvement in Libya, Sudan and Ivory Coast as examples of his
commitment to Africa, along with repeat visits by such senior administration
officials as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Mrs. Obama said she is her husband's "direct
representative" and as such she was the one who met Friday with Botswanan
President Ian Khama. The two emerged from his office after about 45 minutes and
shook hands for the news media. They made no remarks.
Khama expressed appreciation for US assistance,
including life-saving support for HIV/AIDS patients, the White House said.
HIV/AIDS is a major public health challenge in Botswana, a Texas-sized country
of 2 million people in southern Africa. About 300,000 Botswanans are infected
with the disease.
They also discussed youth leadership, the key theme
that Mrs. Obama has been promoting in Africa, and Khama's interest in
conservation. Khama also sent his best wishes to Obama.
Mrs. Obama opened the second leg of her trip in
Botswana on Friday by wielding a paint brush to help create a mural at a
children's HIV/AIDS clinic sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
The facility treats more than 4,000 children and their families.
The US has spent more than $450 million since 2005
to help Botswana deal with AIDS. The country's efforts and partnerships with
academic institutions and foundations have helped more than 95 percent of
infected Botswanans get treatment, officials said.
The first lady also had lunch with a group of
women, many of whom have overcome personal challenges, and their mentors. She
told them that she's proof that success isn't about money or connections
because her parents had neither of those. It's "about how much one
believes in their own potential," she said.
After the call on Khama, Mrs. Obama ended the day at
the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, where family and staff had dinner.
The first lady is traveling with her daughters,
Malia, 12, and Sasha, 10; her mother, Marian Robinson; and a niece and nephew,
Leslie and Avery Robinson, 15 and 19, respectively. She began the trip Monday,
spending two days each in Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa before
moving on to Botswana.
She is due back at the White House early Monday,
after a private family safari this weekend.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
