Obama holds talks on security, human rights in Ethiopia

Obama’s visit marks the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to Ethiopia.

The president has faced criticism for visiting Ethiopia from human rights groups that accuse the government of cracking down on dissent by arresting journalists, opposition party supporters and others.

Among those the situation is landing hardest on is National Security Adviser Susan Rice, a former undersecretary of state for African Affairs under Bill Clinton who then was one of the most involved in the early days of South Sudan as Obama’s first United Nations ambassador.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia-The Obama administration is poised to levy new sanctions aimed at pressuring South Sudan’s rival leaders if they don’t accept a peace deal by a mid-August deadline, senior administration officials said Sunday.

AU Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma hailed what she said will be an “historic visit” and a “concrete step to broaden and deepen the relationship between the AU and the US”.

Meanwhile, attacks over the weekend in neighboring Somalia, claimed by the militant group al-Shabab, have highlighted the security threats during Obama’s visit to the region. Ethiopia has partnered with the U.S.in the fight against terrorism, sharing intelligence with American officials and sending troops into Somalia to address instability there.

Ethiopia is home to the African Union (AU) and on Tuesday Obama will address the whole continent from the organisation’s Chinese-built headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The Horn of Africa nation also remains a favourite of worldwide donors – despite concerns over human rights – as a bastion of stability in an otherwise troubled region.

The ongoing civil conflict and human rights violations in South Sudan are also likely to be addressed during Obama’s two-day stay in Addis Ababa.

Government officials said his visit will significantly transform the over a century old existing bilateral relation ship of the two countries.

The U.S. State Department, however, has noted Ethiopia’s “restrictions on freedom of expression”, as well as “politically motivated trials” and the “harassment and intimidation of opposition members and journalists”.

As he motorcades from hotel to conference room to arena in Africa, President Barack Obama has been fantasizing about a return trip to the continent after leaving office – one with more family, less fanfare and…

“So be careful mr obama to your agendas and activities for this 2 days cuz this is Ethiopia not America or Kenya“.

Monday, on his first full day in the Ethiopian capital, Obama will convene a meeting of the prime minister here, the presidents of Kenya and Uganda, the chairwoman of the African Union and the foreign minister of Sudan.

A different touchy issue would be homosexual legal rights which Obama championed on Saturday in Kenya, calling for equal treatment method for all underneath the regulation.