Obama
arrived in Botswana early on Friday after spending the past days in South
Africa promoting health, education and youth leadership.
She met
President Ian Khama and young people who have or are affected by HIV/AIDS.
Her
husband, President Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, has faced criticism
for not spending more time on the continent himself. His only trip as president
was to Ghana in 2009 for one night.
"There
are a lot of expectations for this president. And so there's bound to be people
who feel like it's never enough," Mrs. Obama said in a group interview
with four reporters traveling with her on the week-long African trip.
"But
this trip is ... a direct reflection of his support and his interest and his
view of the importance of Africa to the world and to the future of the world.
That's why I'm here." President Obama is in the middle of tough talks with
congressional Republicans to agree a deal to raise the US debt limit and reduce
the deficit. With the 2012 election looming, his primary political focus has
been domestic.
"This
is his trip. He would love to be here. But there's a lot of work to do on the
domestic front, and particularly at this time there are a lot of critical
issues," Mrs. Obama said.
"I
think his record and the number of senior officials who have spent so much time
in Africa are ... a reflection of this administration's commitment to this
continent." Jennifer Cooke, Africa Program Director at the Center for
Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said: "The fact that
he's only taken one short trip - I think people have been disappointed,
Africans and Africa policy watchers alike.
"People
are hoping for a trip and one a little longer than his Ghana sojourn." Obama
is on her second official solo journey abroad, along with her daughters, their
cousins, and her mother.
The White
House hopes the first lady's trip to South African and Botswana will highlight
strong democracies on the continent and serve as an example for others.
In a nod
to that goal, Obama praised Botswana during remarks at a meeting of young women
leaders.
"It
is a pleasure to be in this beautiful country that embodies what my husband has
called 'a vision of Africa on the move'," she said. "That is
Botswana, a thriving democracy, a vital society, a fast-growing economy, and
more importantly a kind and generous people." Obama and her family are
scheduled to take a safari on Saturday and head back to Washington on Sunday.
