Bush visits Africa
Globetrotting US President George W Bush has begun his visit to Africa.
He will visit five African countries in the space of as many days.
Mr Bush will visit Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda and Nigeria in a bid to garner support for US foreign policy and its war on terror and, domestically, to win over floating Afro-American voters ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Key issues during his stay are likely to be the ongoing conflict in Liberia, GM crops, and fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS. The US has already pledged $15bn to fight the epidemic.
The US will be asked to contribute peacekeeping troops to halt the conflict in Liberia.
In Senegal, Mr Bush will speak on the issue of slavery at the former slave-trading depot of Goree Island in the Atlantic.
But on Monday, ahead of Mr Bush’s arrival, protesters on the streets of the capital Dakar called Bush a murderer and a butcher in light of the US’ military campaign against Iraq.
