{{Sources from white House have confirmed that President Barack Obama’s trip to Africa next month will include South Africa and Tanzania.}}
The Tanzania government however, said Saturday, it has not been officially informed of the visit.
However, the Tanzania Foreign and International Cooperation minister Bernard Membe said they were aware of the US president’s tour but they had not been informed of his coming here.
The list of Obama’s visit has been expanded by the media alleging it might include Rwanda and Senegal.
At least two serving US presidents have visited Rwanda before including Bill Clinton and George W Bush.
Reports in the Nigerian press yesterday said President Obama would begin his second tour of Africa at the end of next month with visits to South Africa, Tanzania and Rwanda.
In February 2008, Tanzania hosted his predecessor, Mr George W. Bush, who also visited Rwanda.
Highlights of the successful state visit included signing of a $698 million grant under the Millennium Challenge Account arrangement.
Mid-last month, US Secretary of State John Kerry told a US congressional committee that President Barack Obama “will travel” to Africa.
He offered no details regarding the timing and itinerary of the trip.
The visit comes amid growing concern in Washington about China’s role in sub-Saharan Africa, with pressure mounting for President Obama to pay more direct attention to the continent.
As was the case in 2009, Mr Obama is unlikely to visit Kenya, where his father was born.
Africa specialists in the US say a visit to East Africa’s largest economy would not be possible as long as President Uhuru Kenyatta remains under indictment by the International Criminal Court.
Leave a Reply