Bush visits Botswana
Bush has met with Botswana’s President Festus Mogae to discuss ways to combat AIDS in Africa.
US President George W Bush, on the third day of his lightening trip to Africa, visited Botswana yesterday, where he looked to reaffirm his commitment to tackling AIDS and poverty.
Mr Bush has already pledged to help poverty-stricken nations to combat disease and famine with a $15 (9bn pound) package of assistance.
In return, Mr Bush wants more democracy and open markets in Africa.
Botswana, situated just north of South Africa, toils with one of the world’s highest rates of HIV.
According to estimates, 39 per cent of adults are infected and adults aged under-46 have an average life expectancy of 40 years.
Mr Bush met with Botswana’s leaders including Festus G Mogae during his six-hour visit.
Mr Mogae pressed the US president to loosen America’s protectionist policy on imports to enable African countries to have a fairer slice of the cake.
Mr Bush told Botswana’s president: “This [HIV-AIDS] is the deadliest enemy Africa has ever faced, and you will not face this enemy alone. We cry for the orphan. We cry for the mom who is alone. The people of this nation have the courage and resolve to defeat this disease and you will have a partner in the United States of America.”
Mr Bush’s next stop is the East African country of Uganda on Friday.
Mr Bush said his visit to Africa was prompted by a desire to let the world know “the [US is] not only a powerful nation, we’re also a compassionate nation.”
His is pencilled in to meet with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Later in the day, President Bush flies to Nigeria, his final stop on the tour before returning to Washington Saturday.
