As i indicated during my visit to kenya the remarkable gains that country has made with a new constitution with its election cannot be jeopardized by restrictions on civil society. Likewise our hosts the ethiopians have much to be proud of. Ive been amazed at all the wonderful work thats being done here. Its true that the elections that took place here occurred without violence. As i discussed with the Prime Minister thats the start of democracy. I believe ethiopia will not fully unleash the potential of its people if unless are restrict or legitimate opposition groups cant participate in the campaign process. To his credit, the Prime Minister acknowledged that more work will need to be done for ethiopia to be a fullfledged, sustainable democracy. These are conversations we have to have as friends. American democracy i i is not perfect. Weve worked for many years but one thing we do, is we continually reexamine to figure out how can we make our democracy better, and thats a source of strength for us, being willing to look and see honestly what we need to be doing to full if i am the promise of our founding documents. Every country has to go through that process. No country is perfect, but we have to be honest and strive to expand freedoms, to broaden democracy. The bottom line is that when citizens cannot exercise their rights the world has a responsibility to speak out and america will, even if its sometimes uncomfortable. Even when its sometimes directed towards our friends. I know that theres some countries that dont say anything and maybe thats easier for leaders to deal with, but your kind of stuck with us, this is how we are, we believe in these things. Were going to keep on talk about them. I want to repeat, we do this not because we think our democracy is perfect or we think that every country has to follow precisely our path. For more than two centuries since our independence, well still working on perfecting our union. Were not immune from criticism. When we fall short of our ideals we strive to do better. When we speak out for our principles at home and abroad, we stay true to our values and help pick up the lives of people beyond our borders and we think thats important. Its especially important, i believe for those of us of african descent. We know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of unjust, when it means to be discriminated against. We know what it means to be jailed. How can we stand by when its happening to somebody else . Ill be frank with you. It cant just be america thats talking about these things, fell african countries have to be talking about these things. Just as other countries champions your break from colonialism, our nations must all raise our voices when universal rights are denied. If we truly believe africans are equal in dignity have an equal right to freedoms that are universal, thats a principle we all have to defend. Its not just a western idea. Its a human idea. I have to also say that africas democratic process is also at risk when leaders refuse to step avoid when their terms end. [ cheers and applause ] now let me be honest with you. I do not understand this. I am in my second term. It has been an extraordinary privilege for me to serve as the president of the United States. I cannot imagine a greater honor or a more interesting job. I love my work, but under our constitution i cannot run again. I cant run again. I actually think im a pretty good president. I think if i ran, i could win but i cant. So theres a lot that id like to do to keep america moving, but the law is the law and no one person is above the law not even the president. [ applause ] ill be honest with you im looking forward to life after being president. I wont have such a big security detail all the time. It means i can go take a walk. I can spend time with my family. I can find other ways to serve. I can visit africa more often. [ cheers and applause ] the point is, i dont understand why people want to stay so long. Especially when theyve got a lot of money. When a leader tries to change the rules in the middle of the game just to stay in office, it risks instability and strife, as weve seen in burundi. [ applause ] and this is often just a first step down a perilous path. Sometimes youll hear a leader say well, im the only person who can hold this nation together. If thats true, then that leader has failed to truly build their nation. You look at Nelson Mandela. Like george washington, he forged a Lasting Legacy not only because of what they did in office, but they were willing to leave office and transfer power peacefully. Just as the African Union has condemned coups and i will legitimate transfers of power the strong voice can help the people of africa assure their leaders abide by term limits and their constitutions. Nobody should be president for life. Your countrys better off if you have new blood and new ideas. Im still a pretty young man [ cheers and applause ] im still a pretty young man but i know that somebody with new energy and new insights will be good for my country. It will be good for yours too in some cases. Africas progress will also depend on security and peace because an essential part of Human Dignity is being safe and free from fear. In angola, mozambique, lib about her i cant, sierra leone weve seen conflicts end and countries work to rebuild but from somalia and nigeria nigeria and tunisia, terrorists continue to target innocent civilians. Many of these groups claim the banner of religion, but hundreds of millions of african muslims know that islam means peace. [ cheers and applause ] we must call alqaeda, boko haram isil what they are murderers. In the face of threats africa and the African Union has shown leadership. Because of the a. U. Force in somalia, al shabab controls west territory and the Somali Government is growing stronger. In central africa, the a. U. Led Mission Continues to degrade the lords resistance army. In the Lake Chad Basin forces from severalflationion with the backing of the a. U. R. Fighting to end boko harams senseless brutality. We salute all those who serve to protect the innocent, so many brave african peace keepers. As africa stands against terror and conflict, i want you to know that the United States stands with you. With training and support were helping African Forces grow stronger. The United States is supporting the a. U. s effort to strengthen peacekeeping and were working with countries in the region to deal with emerging crisis with the rapidly response partnership. The world must do more to help, as well. This fall at the United Nations i will host a summit to secure new commitments to strengthen International Support for peacekeeping including here in africa and building on commitments that originated here in the a. U. Well work to develop a new partnership between the u. N. And a. U. To provide support for africa peacekeeping operations. If nations step up with strong support, we can transform how we Work Together to ensure peace and security in africa. Our efforts to ensure security must be matched by a commitment to improve governance. Those things are connected. Good governance is one of the best weapons against terrorism and instability. Our fight against terrorist groups for example will never be won if we fail to address legitimate grievances that terrorists may try to exploit. If we dont built trust with all communities, if we dont uphold the rule of law. Theres a saying and i believe it is true, if we sacrifice liberty in the name of security, we risk losing both. [ cheers and applause ] this same seriousness of purpose is needed to end conflicts. In the Central African republic the spirit of dialogue shown by ordinary citizens must be matched by leaders committed to Inclusive Elections and a peaceful transition. In mali, the comprehensive Peace Agreement must be fulfilled. Leaders in sudan most know their nation will never truly thrive as long as they wage war against their own people. The world will not forget darfur. In south sudan, there is a despair of violence. I was there at the United Nations when we held up south sudan as the promise of a new beginning. They have not shown any interest in sparing their people from suffering or reaching a political solution. Yesterday i met with leaders from this region. We agree that given the current situation, mr. Ker and mr. Mashar must reach an agreement by august 17 because if they do not, i believe the International Community must wage the cost of intransigence. Accountability for atrocities must be part of any lasting peace in africas youngest nation. [ applause ] finally africas progress will depend on upholding the rights of all human people for if each of us is to be treated with dignity each of us must be sure to also extend that same dignity to others. As president , i make it a point to meet with many of our Young African leaders. One was a young man from senegal. He said Something Wonderful about being together with so many of his African Brothers and sisters. He said here i have met africa, the africa ive always believed in. Shes beautiful. Shes young. She said full of talent and motivation and ambition. I agree. Africa is the beautiful talented daughters who are just as capable as africas sons, and as a father, i believe that my two daughters have to have the same chance to pursue their dreams as anybodys son and that same thing holds true for girls here in africa. Our girls have to be treated the same. We cant let old traditions stand in the way. The march of history shows that we have the capacity to broaden our moral imaginations. We come to see that some traditions are good for us, they keep us grounded, but that in our modern world other traditions set us back. When african girls are subjected to the mutilation of their bodies or forced into marriage at the ages of nine or 10 or 11, that sets us back. Thats not a good tradition. It needs to end. [ applause ] when more than 80 of new h. I. V. Cases in the hardesthit countries are teenage girls thats a tragedy. That sets us back. So americas beginning a partnership with 10 african countries, kenya uganda, zambia and others to keep teenage girls safe and agefree. When girls cannot go to school and grow up not knowing how to read or write that denials the world future women engineers future women doctors future Women Business owners, future women president s. That sets us all back. Thats a bad tradition not providing our girls the same education as our sons. I was saying in kenya nobody would put out a Football Team and then play just half the team. Youd lose. The same is true when it comes to getting everybody an education. You cant leave half the team off, our young women. So as part of americas support for the education and the health of our daughters my wife, michelle is helping to lead a global campaign, including a new effort in tanzania and malawi, let girls learn so they grow up healthy and strong and that will be good for families and they will raise smart healthy children and that will be good for every one of your nations. Africa is the beautiful strong women that these girls grow up to become, the single best indicator of whether a nation will succeed is how it treats its women. When women have health care, and women have education families are stronger, community are more prosperous children do better in school, nations are more prosperous. Look at the amazing African Women here in this hall. [ cheers and applause ] if you want your country to grow and succeed you have to empower your women. If you want to empower more women, america will be your partner. Lets Work Together. Lets Work Together to stop Sexual Assault and domestic violence. Lets make clear that we will not tolerate rich as a weapon of war. Its a crime. Those who commit it must be punished. Lets lift up the next generation of Women Leaders who can help fight injustice and forge peace and start new businesses and create jobs. Some might hire some men, too. Well all be better off when women have equal futures. Africa is the beautiful tapestry of your cultures and ethnicities and races and regions. Last night we saw this amazing dance troupe made up of Street Children who had formed a dance troupe and performed for the Prime Minister and myself. Eighty different languages and i dont know how many ethnic groups there were 30 different dances being done and the Prime Minister was trying to keep up, ok i think that ones. And they were moving fast. That diversity here is representative of diversity throughout africa, and thats a strength. Yesterday i had the privilege to view lucy. You may know lucy, shes our ancestor, more than 3 million years old, in this tree of humanity we all go back to the same root. Were all one family. Were all one tribe. Yet, so much of the suffering in our world stems from our failure to remember that, to not recognize ourselves in each other. We think because somebodys skin is slightly different or their hair is slightly different or their religious faith is differently expressed or they speak a different language, that it justifies somehow us treating them with less dignity and that becomes the source of so many of our problems. We think somehow that we make ourselves better by putting other people down. That becomes the source of so many of our problems. When we begin to see each other as somehow less than ourselves when we succumb to these artificial divisions of faith or sect or tribe or ethnicity then even the most awful abuses are justified in the minds of those ways. In the end abusers lose their own humanity, as well. [ applause ] Nelson Mandela taught us to be free is not merely to cast off ones chains but to live in a way that respects and enhance it is the freedom of others. Every one of us is equal every one of us has worth every one of us matters. When we respect the freedom of others no matter the color of their skin or how they pray or who they are, we are all more free. Your dignity depends on my dignity and my dignity depends on yours. Imagine if everyone had that spirit in their hearts. Imagine if governments operated that way. Just imagine what the world could look like, the future that we could bekeith these young people. In our world old thinking can hold us back. Old people think in old ways. You can see im old my hair is getting brain. I believe the human heart is stronger. I believe hearts can change. I believe minds can open. Thats how change happens. Thats how societies move forward. Its not always a straight line. Step by halting step, sometimes you go forward you move back a little bit but i believe we are marching, we are pointing towards ideals of justice and equality. Thats how your nations won independence not just with rifles but with principles and ideals. Thats how africanamericans won our civil rights. Thats how South African black and white tore down apartheid. Thats why i can stand before you today as the first africanamerican president of the United States. [ cheers and applause ] new thinking promoting development that lifts all people out of poverty, supporting democracy that gives citizens their say. Advancing the security and justice that delivers peace respecting the human rights of all people, these are the keys to progress, not just in africa, but around the world. This is the work that we can do together. I am hopeful as i prepare to return home, my thoughts are with that same young man from senegal who said here i have met africa the africa i have always believed in, she is beautiful young within full of talent, motivation and ambition, to which i would simply add as you build the africa you believe in, you will have no better partner no better friend than the United States of america. God bless africa. God bless the United States of america. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. You have been listening to the president of the United States. He is just wrapping up his address to the African Union this morning. It is the first time that a sitting u. S. President has done that talk to the entire continent, applausing gains and opportunities for trick africans, wrapping up his visit. Michael shure what message did the president send today . A lot to digest. Yeah, it was a lot to digest. The president is addressing the African Union the first president to address the African Union. It reminded me of a state of the union speech he might give here. Heres whats wrong right now in africa here is what is going right and here ares initiatives to accomplish, sprinkling in personal an dotes. He made it clear that a rising middle class and an opportunity for business was a very important part of why he is in africa. It is long past time to put aside old stereotypes of an africa forever mired in poverty and conflict. The world must recognize africas extraordinary progress. Today, africa is one of the Fastest Growing regions in the world. Africas middle class is projected to grow to more than 1 billion consumers. You know, when you hear that, you hear business, you hear opportunity, but of course, dell the president was there to talk about human rights, peaceful transfers of power which is something that he tried to put by making himself an example, tried to put it on africa, im going to be out of