The president touches down in Africa for a week-long visit as the continent monitors the declining health of Nelson Mandela.
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| The First Family arrives at the airport in Dakar, Senegal |
President Barack Obama has kicked off the
first leg of a three-country visit to Africa - his most extensive trip to the
continent as president. Air
Force One touched down in the Senegalese capital of Dakar on Wednesday night.
The
president was accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and
Sasha.
Mr
Obama's trip is highly anticipated given his personal ties to the continent.
His father was born in Kenya and many of his relatives still live there. However,
the president has spent just one day in Africa since taking office - a 2009 day
trip to Ghana. In
addition to Senegal, he will visit South Africa and Tanzania during this
week-long trip.
Looming
over Mr. Obama's visit is the deteriorating
health of former South African President Nelson Mandela.
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Few
major policy announcements are expected during Mr. Obama's trip. Instead,
the president will focus on promoting democratic institutions, boosting
opportunities for Africa's vast youth population and promoting the continent as
a growing market for US businesses.
The
White House defended the purpose of the trip despite its low policy
expectations.
"Presidential
trips to regions of the world like Africa bring enormous benefits in terms of
our relationship with the countries visited and the countries in the
region," spokesman Jay Carney told reporters travelling on Air Force
One.
"The
trip itself will not be the end point of our engagement, but will enhance it,
deepen it and further it," he said.
The
president will make two stops at sights that highlight the continent's harsh
racial history: Senegal's Goree Island, which was the centre of Atlantic slave
trade.
He
also will visit Robben Island, the apartheid-era prison in South Africa
where Mr Mandela spent 18 years of his 27 years in prison.
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