Press Release: President Clinton Visits Africa

William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, visited five nations in Africa to continue his work on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention and African economic development.

President Clinton participated in meetings and events that highlighted the importance of democratization, reconciliation and citizen service.

The former president was in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa.

This is President Clinton's second visit to Africa since leaving office in January, 2001. In April, 2001, he traveled to South Africa and Nigeria.

Meetings and events throughout the trip included a focus on the HIV/AIDS epidemic which has caused great harm to millions of people in many nations in Africa. Along with Nelson Mandela, President Clinton is co-chair of the International AIDS Trust and has been active in efforts to educate people about the HIV/AIDS epidemic, encourage prevention of HIV/AIDS and promote more treatment of those who have the disease. Through the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, he has been working with nations in Africa and the Caribbean on prevention, care and treatment strategies to combat HIV/AIDS.

In Ghana, President Clinton and Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto launched a new initiative to promote and replicate Mr. de Soto's success in bringing poor people's assets – their homes and businesses – into a legal property system in order to provide them a firmer basis for investment and economic growth. Mr. de Soto's work dramatically improved Peru's economy and holds great promise for other nations.

In South Africa, President Clinton delivered an address on the future of Africa and the role of the international community. He also joined Nelson Mandela in an event to recognize the importance of loveLife as a model for global HIV/AIDS prevention. loveLife is a project established by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in partnership with the South African Government, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF and others in order to reduce South Africa's youth HIV/AIDS infection rate by 50 percent in five years.

Also in South Africa, President Clinton met with the first class of In March, 1998, President Clinton became the first American president to visit Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana and Senegal.

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