Obama Flies to South Africa Where Hundreds Protest Against His Visit

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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US President Barack Obama flies to South African while former South African President Nelson Mandela struggles for life in a medical facility. Nobel Prize winner Mandela is suffering with a critical lung disease and his health is slowly deteriorating. According to the most recent reports from President’s office, Mandela’s health remains serious but stable.

Earlier in the week, President Jacob Zuma abruptly cancelled his trip to neighboring Mozambique after learning about Mandela’s frail health. Obama’s visit has been particularly over shadowed by the recent developments in Mandela’s health.

“The president will be speaking to the legacy of Nelson Mandela and that will be a significant part of our time in South Africa,” said US deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes.

Obama is expected to host a town hall meeting at the University of Johannesburg’s campus in Soweto, the township where Mandela used to reside. He will also make a visit to community centre with fellow Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and deliver a speech at the University of Cape Town.

Meanwhile, a number of protesters have gathered outside the hospital where Mandela is receiving medical treatment. Over 200 trade unionists, student activists and South African Communist Party members are protesting against Obama’s visit at capital Pretoria.

“We had expectations of America’s first black president. Knowing Africa’s history, we expected more. He has come as a disappointment, I think Mandela too would be disappointed and feel let down,” a newspaper quoted a 19-year-old Khomotso Makola at Pretoria.

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