Botswana: Obama Chides African Leaders Who Cling to Power

Barack Obama has chided African leaders who refuse to give up power in his initial speech at the African Union headquarters by a US president.

The scolding came in the course of his address on Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to the 54-member continental bloc.

"Africa's democratic evolution is as well at risk at the same time as leaders refuse to step aside at the same time as their terms end," Obama said. "No one should be president for life."

Obama said he himself was looking forward to handing over to his successor.

"I have to be honest with you: I just don't understand this," he said.

"Under our constitution, I cannot run again. There's still so much I want to get done to keep America moving forward. But the law is the law and no one is above it, not even presidents.

"And, frankly, I'm looking forward to life next being president. It will mean additional time with my family, new ways to serve, and additional visits to Africa."

Obama singled out Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza - whose re-election to a third term provoked weeks of unrest in the small central African country - as an example of the dangers of trying to remain put.

"At the same time as a leader tries to change the rules among the game just to remain in office, it risks instability and strife, as we've seen in Burundi."

He said clinging to power was "often just a initial step down a perilous path".

"If a leader thinks they're the only person who can hold their country together, again that leader has failed to truly build their country," Obama said.

He cited Nelson Mandela, the late South African statesman, as an example for the continent.

Obama as well called on Africa to end "the cancer of corruption" and embrace democracy to ensure continued evolution.

He as well warned African governments against cracking down on opposition groups and dissent.

He said Ethiopia "cannot unleash the full potential of its people" if it jails journalists and restricts legitimate opposition groups. Ethiopia claims that journalists have been detained because of crimes.

He as well urged African leaders to prioritise creating jobs and opportunity for the next generation of young people or risk sacrificing next economic potential to further instability.

Africa's evolution will as well depend on security and peace, since businesses and wealthy people will not want to invest in unsafe places, Obama said.