Sitting tight threatens Africa’s democracies -Obama

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday said that the attitude of some African leaders who hold on to power, and refuse to let go when their time is up puts democracy at risk on the continent.

Obama in a speech at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital said, “Africa’s democratic progress is also at risk when leaders refuse to step aside when their terms end”.

“No one should be president for life,” Obama said, adding that he himself was looking forward to handing over to his successor.

He also called on Africa to end what he described as “the cancer of corruption” to ensure continued progress.

“Nothing will unlock Africa’s economic potential more than ending the cancer of corruption,” Obama said, warning that it drained “billions of dollars” from economies that could be used for health or create employment.

He also said it was time for the world to change its approach to Africa, as he made the first address to the African Union by a US leader.

“As Africa changes, I’ve called for the world to change its approach to Africa,” Obama said.

“A half century into this independence era, it is long past time to put aside old stereotypes of an Africa forever mired in poverty and conflict. The world must recognise Africa’s extraordinary progress.”

Obama said Africa needed more trade, and that the United States was stepping up its business ties with the continent.

Read also: Obama hails Africa’s potentials

“So many Africans have told me: we don’t just want aid, we want trade that fuels our progress. We don’t want patrons, we want partners who help us build our own capacity to grow. We don’t want the indignity of dependence, we want to make our own choices and determine our own future,” he said.

Obama said the United States was a trusted partner of the continent, and that “Economic relationships cannot simply be about other countries building infrastructure with foreign labour or extracting Africa’s natural resources”.

According to him, “Real economic partnerships have to be a good deal for Africa. They have to create jobs and capacity for Africans. That’s the kind of partnership America offers.”

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