Support us Africans, vote Obama?

Just hours before we go to the polls, most of us American expats in Africa, find ourselves pinned against the baobab by Africans wanting to know our voting preferences. It is not solely the questions, but the overall excitement, which makes you wonder about why just about every African is getting a thrill out of the name 'Obama'.

Only last week, a major Ugandan (pro-government) daily The Vision ran an article entitled Uganda Tops Obama's Agenda citing U.S. Ambassador Howard Wolpe saying the Great Lakes region to be one of Senator Obama's top priorities shall he win today's vote. According to Wolpe, the democratic nominee would likely maintain the current course of U.S. foreign policy in Africa by continuing to actively engage in a diplomatic way. A diplomatic way. Sounds familiar? Well, at least to me it does. Can't help thinking about the diplomatic duet of Thabo Mbeki and Robert Mugabe, to some also known as the Honorable Uncle Bob. The hero of Zimbabwe's struggle for "true liberty and democracy", read: vote rigging, human rights violations, hyperinflation.

Is the in a diplomatic way foreign policy approach towards Africa (or as a matter of fact all authoritarian governments) a driving factor behind the African's excitement about Obama as the next President of the United States? I surely hope not.

So why the thrill?

If you don't know what it's about, it's most certainly about money. Next to the European Union, the U.S. is a major donor of humanitarian and development aid to Africa. Many Africans assume that given Obama's African descent, his future administration would be more generous than those of his predecessor's on aid spending. Once he wins the presidency, some of us Africans will be expecting Obama to spoon-feed us, says Alice a employee of one of the numerous development organizations operating in Kampala. But we're much mistaken. We Africans are too expectant - the most he'll do is pave the way for African economies to develop and that is it, she quickly adds.

The looming financial crisis over Washington will surly affect U.S. funding across the world. Given the enormous pressure on the budget, it will be very difficult to maintain current levels of aid flows to Africa, warns Wolpe. During the first few years we can expect the new administration to concentrate its efforts on bringing the U.S. economy back on track and improving America's image in the world.

So, just how likely is it that Africa will top President Obama's agenda?
First of all, Africa first needs to change from within, from top down. Corruption infiltrates Africa's politics, poisons the economy and the African society, halting the positive changes mainstream Africans want to see happen, adds Alice.

to be continued...

Alex Slowinski
Kampala, Uganda