Bush visits Africa

Third Place

News Story

Division 1

Bush visits africa

Martin Leboo

Grade 11

Vidette

J.P. McCaskey HS

Adviser: Brian McDonald

In the twilight of his presidency, George Bush launched a five nation tour of Africa, including a brief stop at the small West African nation of Benin, where tens of thousands of US dollars are helping to fight malaria, train teachers, and reform the government.

The president's visit sought to highlight the most successful policy of his legacy. Since the start of his tenure, Bush has given Africa over 15 billion dollars, the largest ever health initiative devoted to one disease, which have helped increase the number of people receiving anti-retroviral drugs living in sub-Sahara Africa from 50 thousand to 1.5 million. After experiencing such success, the administration plans to double the current aid to $30 billion over the next five years.

The five nations, Tanzania, Ghana, Liberia, Rwanda, and Benin all have shown the most success of Bush's legacy. It is in these nations that democracy and an aggressive fight against Aids and poverty is taking root.

The President's longest stop was in the East African nation of Tanzania, where tens of thousands awaited the arrival of his motorcade. In the Tanzanian capital of Dar ES Salaam, Bush signed an aids packet worth over $700 million with President Jakaya Kikwete. This money will go toward fighting Malaria, Aids, and poverty.

Bush's visit was, however, overshadowed by raging violence in Kenya, unrest in Chad, and worsening crisis in Darfur region where 200,000 are dead and more than 2.5 million are displaced.

Some have questioned the president's motives for his visit. It was perceived as a strategic move to lessen China's increasing investment in the continent. Beijing is now Africa's third largest trading partner. With over 15% of US oil and a huge amount of natural resources, Africa is an important strategic interest.