MAURITANIA
On March 4th, 2009, US Embassy Nouakchott hosted over 25 members of civil society for a discussion facilitated through Africa Regional Services (ARS) Paris on Barack Obama’s autobiography “Dreams from My Father”. The Charge D’Affairs at the US Embassy in Nouakchott, Dennis Hankins, gave a brief introduction focusing on the democratic process that brought about the election of the first African American president of the United States. Following a 5 minute video of Barack Obama’s second trip to Kenya, former US diplomat Sheldon Austin read aloud passages from President Obama’s autobiography in French and gave a brief analysis to an audience of former Mauritanian diplomats, alumni of exchange programs, journalists and US Embassy staff.
A fruitful dialogue ensued in which notions of race, identity, US policy towards Africa and the meaning of the election were discussed. Drawing parallels to the context in Mauritania, a multicultural society with a history of racial divisions, the audience spoke of the hope that such an election – a culmination of a long civil rights movement – gave them as Mauritanians, Africans and world citizens. They saw his uniquely multicultural past as giving him a new and different perspective from which to lead the United States, and by extension, serve as an example for the world.
They also highlighted the democratic process that his election embodied, and the desire to see Mauritania return to democratic rule. Guests lingered to enjoy complementary drinks and discussion, and received publications upon exit including the IIP biography Barack Obama, ARS publications on Barack Obama in French, and his second title in French, The Audacity of Hope.
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