The girls were given large blankets with colours of the South African flag to wrap up in as they got off the plane on a chilly Pretoria night
US first lady Michelle Obama arrived in South Africa on her second official solo journey abroad with a goal of advancing US policies on education, health, and democracy.
The first lady arrived at a military airport in South Africa’s capital Pretoria, shortly before 1930 GMT Monday. She was welcomed by US ambassador Donald Gips and his family.
She will make stops in Johannesburg and Cape Town and later in the week visit Botswana.
Mrs Obama is scheduled to meet Graca Machel, the wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela. She will also visit Robben Island where Mandela was imprisoned and Soweto.
Mrs. Obama’s visit to South Africa could boost the image of President Jacob Zuma and his government, independent political analyst Nic Borain said.
“I think any president who hosts her gets to bask in the glory. So a president of the newish South Africa, the site of the last great struggle by black people against colonialism and apartheid hosting the first black First Lady, is going to take on a symbolic quality that will be quite blinding,” Borain said.
In Botswana she will meet President Ian Khama and women leaders. She will also see a nature reserve.
The first lady’s previous official solo trip abroad was to Mexico.
She is joined on this trip by her two daughters, Sasha and Malia, and two of their cousins as well as Mrs Obama’s mother. The girls were given large blankets with colours of the South African flag to wrap up in as they got off the plane. - Reuters
Michelle Obama to visit Soweto
The girls were given large blankets with colours of the South African flag to wrap up in as they got off the plane on a chilly Pretoria night
US first lady Michelle Obama arrived in South Africa on her second official solo journey abroad with a goal of advancing US policies on education, health, and democracy.
The first lady arrived at a military airport in South Africa’s capital Pretoria, shortly before 1930 GMT Monday. She was welcomed by US ambassador Donald Gips and his family.
She will make stops in Johannesburg and Cape Town and later in the week visit Botswana.
Mrs Obama is scheduled to meet Graca Machel, the wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela. She will also visit Robben Island where Mandela was imprisoned and Soweto.
Mrs. Obama’s visit to South Africa could boost the image of President Jacob Zuma and his government, independent political analyst Nic Borain said.
“I think any president who hosts her gets to bask in the glory. So a president of the newish South Africa, the site of the last great struggle by black people against colonialism and apartheid hosting the first black First Lady, is going to take on a symbolic quality that will be quite blinding,” Borain said.
In Botswana she will meet President Ian Khama and women leaders. She will also see a nature reserve.
The first lady’s previous official solo trip abroad was to Mexico.
She is joined on this trip by her two daughters, Sasha and Malia, and two of their cousins as well as Mrs Obama’s mother. The girls were given large blankets with colours of the South African flag to wrap up in as they got off the plane. - Reuters
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