The reception for Bush in Africa is nothing like that of Clinton's. Five years ago when Clinton visited Africa large and adoring crowds greeted him, Bush gets none of that.
South Africa's revered former president, Nelson Mandela, who sharply criticized Bush on Iraq and once said Bush "cannot think properly," arranged to be out of the country while Bush is here.
The country's dominant political party, the African National Congress, led a 2,000-person march to the U.S. Embassy today in protest of Bush's visit. Hundreds more marched in Cape Town. President Thabo Mbeki left the country after a half-day with Bush to attend the 52-nation African Union meeting in Mozambique.
At a news conference today, Bush and Mbeki emphasized their common ground while avoiding differences on such contentious issues as Zimbabwe's leadership, AIDS and Iraq. Mbeki told Bush in a luncheon toast that "we would not but receive you as a friend and an honored guest," adding: "We're greatly strengthened, Mr. President, by the knowledge that we have you as our partner and friend."
When reporters quizzed Bush and Mbeki about their differences over Zimbabwe -- Bush has been highly critical of President Robert Mugabe while Mbeki has sought to negotiate with the authoritarian ruler to end violence there -- Bush said the reporters were trying to "create tensions which don't exist."