Billy Ntaote
WASHINGTON DC — Prime Minister Thomas Thabane was among 400 guests who attended a special dinner hosted by American President Barack Obama at his official residence, the White House, on Tuesday this week.
Dr Thabane was part of the three-day, first-ever US-African Leaders Summit which began in Washington DC on Monday and ended yesterday.
In his address, Mr Obama, who turned 53 on Monday this week, said his relationship with Africa was “personal” — a statement which received thunderous applause from the audience.
“This city, this house, has welcomed foreign envoys and leaders for more than two centuries. But never before have we hosted a dinner at the White House like this, with so many presidents, so many prime ministers all at once,” President Obama said.
Mr Obama, who was in the company of his wife Michelle, emphasised his “roots and connection” to Africa.
“I stand before you as the president of the United States and a proud American. I also stand before you as the son of a man from Africa,” he said to further applause from the guests, who included 35 presidents, nine prime ministers, three vice-presidents, two foreign ministers and a king.
African blood, he added, runs through his family hence the bond between the US and African countries such as his father’s homeland Kenya, “are deeply personal”.
Mr Obama ended his brief speech with a toast for a “New Africa”.
“I propose a toast to the New Africa — an Africa that is rising and so full of promise — and to our shared task to keep on working for peace and prosperity and justice that all our people seek and that all our people so richly deserve.”
