SENEGAL/SOMALIA: Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade and Mogadishu residents join rest of world in congratulating US president-elect Barack Obama

Record ID: 454624

  • Title: SENEGAL/SOMALIA: Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade and Mogadishu residents join rest of world in congratulating US president-elect Barack Obama
  • Date: 7th November 2008
  • Summary: (AD1) MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (NOVEMBER 5, 2008) (REUTERS) STREET SCENES (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) MOGADISHU RESIDENT, ABBI MOHAMED, SAYING: "I think there will be a very big change in US policy towards the African continent because in this world there are many conflicts between Islam and Christianity so President Obama will change this situation." MORE STREET SCENES (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) MOGADISHU RESIDENT, MOHAMED MOHAMUD ELMI, SAYING: "I fully support President Obama because he is a black man and I think he will change our situation in Somalia." MARKET IN HAMARWEYNEH NEIGHBOURHOOD (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) MOGADISHU RESIDENT, AWES SHEEK MAYEH, SAYING: "I saw him during the earlier phase of his presidential campaign. He is going to change the way America is perceived around the rest of the world. I think he is a peaceful man and will correct America's past mistakes." MARKET SCENES
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8E0REJTBHM6OHDSJFE3EIX7P3
  • Story Text: Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and residents of the embattled Somali capital of Mogadishu congratulate US president-elect Barack Obama.
    As many Africans fervently hope the victory of Barack Obama will mean more US support for local development and an improvement in living conditions for the world's poorest continent, Senegal's president Abdoulaye Wade said he does not expect the US president-elect to change the fate of the continent. Wade warns that Obama will have other priorities.
    "I think that Africans shouldn't ask him extraordinary things, they shouldn't expect that this would change the order of things, and that as if by miracle his election will drain America of money for Africa to change our continent. I think that this shouldn't even be done. This shouldn't happen and it's not a good thing," said Wade.
    Barack Obama was elected by the Americans to bring America back on track. So he should bring America back on track before thinking of another country, be it Kenya, Senegal or another," added Wade.
    Born in Hawaii to a white mother from Kansas and a Kenyan father, Obama is idolised by many Africans the way the Irish saw US President John F.
    Kennedy in the 1960s: as one of their own who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
    Analysts have cautioned, however, that Obama may have little scope to bring tangible benefits to Africa, and that he does not have a strong track record of interest in the continent.
    Wade hopes however that Obama has a greater understanding of the continent.
    "We're going to pray for him, and give him moral support, and all that we can ask of him, on a political level, is to consider Africa, and meet with us, listen to us and understand us, because he is best placed to understand us. But we shouldn't demand economic or financial help from America," Wade said.
    However, Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, people said they are glad that Obama had won and that he will help solve some of Africa's problems particularly in their own country.
    Somalia hasn't had an effective government since 1991. In 2006 fighting between militants known as the Islamic Courts Union and transitional government troops backed by Ethiopia broke out in Mogadishu. The militants were forced out of the city but regrouped and launched an iraq style insurgency.
    "I think there will be a very big change in US policy towards the African continent because in this world there are many conflicts between Islam and Christianity so President Obama will change this situation," said Abbi Mohamed, a Mogadishu resident.
    "I fully support President Obama because he is a black man and I think he will change our situation in Somalia," said Mohamed Mohamud Elmi, another Mogadishu resident.
    "I saw him during the earlier phase of his presidential campaign.
    He is going to change the way America is perceived around the rest of the world. I think he is a peaceful man and will correct America's past mistakes," said Awes Sheek Mayeh, a Mogadishu resident.
    The violence in Somalia has killed nearly 10,000 civilians since the start of 2007 and forced more than a million from their homes, triggering a humanitarian crisis that aid workers say is one of the worst -- and most neglected -- in Africa.
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