Responding to questions on the the subject
addressed to the two leaders at a Thursday press conference at Dakar's
presidential palace, President Sall said that given the prevailing
social and traditional beliefs, “our country was not ready to embrace
the phenomenon”.
Added the Senegalese leader: “Senegalese are not
homophobes but very tolerant and do not believe or practice
discrimination of any kind but we are not ready to take on board same
sex marriages, at least for this moment."
President Obama tactfully responded that the issue of same sex marriage was the prerogative of individuals and countries.
However, the US leader expressed satisfaction over
the democratic and economic dividends portrayed by many African
countries over the last decade.
But he said the onus was on African leaders for a
change of paradigm in bilateral cooperation in order to win the
confidence of international partners and begin to benefit from equal
treatment with other governments.
He also expressed confidence in the capability of
African youths and revealed plans to further strengthen their engagement
in promoting the development strides of their countries.
Democratic rights
President Obama insisted that African countries
needed to increase trade agreements, encourage investment in
agriculture, maximise production and aim at diversified exports.
This done, he said Africa will be on the right
path to overcoming unemployment which he said was the main setback to
the development of many countries.
The American leader said his choice of Senegal to
begin his tour was because the country was the most stable in the West
African region and also because “it is our strongest partner in this
region”.
He lauded Senegal for deploying upwards of 5,000
soldiers in peacekeeping missions across the continent and pledged to
strengthen America's military cooperation with Dakar.
President Obama then challenged African leaders to
work hard in protecting and guaranteeing citizens rights which he said
was fundamental in building a strong democratic system.
Both presidents expressed sadness over Nelson
Mandela’s illness with President Sall saying he would have wished for
'Madiba' to attain his centenary.
At the end of the press conference, the two
leaders headed for the Dakar Supreme Court for a working session with 12
Supreme Court presidents from Africa, before heading for the popular
slave island of Gorée, four miles off Dakar.
The American president arrived Wednesday night in
Dakar on the first leg of his three-nation tour African that will also
take him to South Africa and Tanzania.
Source: Daily Nation
Source: Daily Nation
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