Security was heightened in Dakar, with the closure of key arteries and people confined to their neighbourhoods
US President Barack Obama has arrived in Senegal to begin a long awaited first major tour of Africa.
Obama's
arrival in Dakar marks the first leg of a three country tour, that also
includes South Africa and Tanzania, on a trip where he is expected to
focus on deepening economic cooperation with the continent.
Obama's itinerary is subject to change as concerns rise over the
ailing health of South Africa's former president and icon Nelson
Mandela.
On Thursday, Obama is expected to tour Goree Island, a former slave
trading hub off the coast of the capital Dakar, as well as meet
Senegalese President Macky Sall.
Al Jazeera's correspondent Malcolm Webb said Senegal's culture of
democratic values in a region fraught with instability meant that it was
"a safe option for Obama's administration".
Senegalese political analyst Fernand Tona told the German press
agency DPA that Obama's visit represented a "gold medal" for Senegal as a
functioning democracy.
"But we shouldn't just presume that Senegal's economy will be boosted
as a result of closer ties between Senegal and the United States," he
said.
"Senegal would need to pass a lot of reforms in order to attract more
American investors. There are still some serious problems in this
country."
Maximum surveillance
Security was heightened in Dakar, with the closure of key arteries and many people confined to their neighbourhoods.
"Ever since it was announced that Obama would visit Senegal, the
country has been under maximum surveillance," said Lamine Bayo, a
43-year-old taxi driver.
"Our freedom is somewhat limited, especially regarding the excessive
road closures. If someone needs to urgently get to hospital, they might
have problems."
Senegal is only the second African country that the US president of
Kenyan ancestry has visited during his time in the White House. Ghana
was the sole focus of his first visit to Africa in 2009.
This has been a major source of disappointment for people on the
continent, after Obama's 2008 election caused euphoria and an
expectation that the son of a Kenyan would put Africa policy at the top
of his agenda.
US officials are aware that emerging economic opportunities and
energy resources in Africa have attracted a clutch of interest from
rising rivals.
Obama is due to move on to South Africa on Friday for a weekend of
talks and events, including a news conference with President Jacob Zuma
in Pretoria.
The US president will then head to Cape Town where his events include
a visit to Mandela's jail cell on Robben Island and a roundtable with
business leaders that will include senior members of the president's
economic team.
The final leg of Obama's journey will take him to Tanzania, where his
programme includes talks and a news conference with President Jakaya
Kikwete and a visit to the Ubungo power plant.
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