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Barack Obama hails 'new Africa emerging' Barack Obama hails 'new Africa emerging'
(about 9 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has said "a new Africa is emerging" as he opened the last day of a summit in Washington DC with 40 African leaders. US President Barack Obama has hailed a new emerging Africa, on the last day of a summit in Washington DC with 40 African leaders.
Wednesday's talks will cover both security concerns and corruption - two areas the US administration says is holding back growth in Africa. Wednesday's talks covered security concerns and corruption - two areas the US administration says are holding back growth and investment in Africa.
US firms have pledged $14bn (£8.3bn) in investments during the summit. US firms pledged $37bn (£33bn) in investment during the summit.
Such investment will fight extremism across the region, US Secretary of State John Kerry has told the BBC. Closing the summit, Mr Obama said the leaders had held "genuine discussions" and pledged to hold another gathering.
In an interview with BBC's HARDtalk on Tuesday, Mr Kerry said stability from business projects was countering extremist ideologies and militant movements. "I'll strongly encourage my successor to carry on this work because Africans must know they will always have a strong partner in the United States of America," he said, describing the three-day summit as "an extraordinary event".
"There will be less Boko Harams, less al-Shababs. There will be less cause for people to have their minds filled with extremist ideology rather than to engage in the broader benefits of society." On Wednesday, the White House announced new aid to support African peacekeeping forces and new security co-operation. And Mr Obama said the nations had agreed to convene "experts" to discuss transparency and good governance on the continent.
In opening remarks at the state department on Wednesday, Mr Obama said Africa was a stronger continent despite challenges it faces, including the recent outbreak of Ebola. "We find that in some cases, engaging a country that generally is a good partner but is not performing optimally when it comes to all the various categories of human rights, that we can be effective in working with them on certain areas and criticising them and trying to elicit improvements in other areas," he said.
"A new Africa is emerging - some of the world's fastest-growing economies and a growing middle class, the youngest and fastest growing population on Earth," Mr Obama said. During the three-day summit, Mr Obama discussed how the US was shifting its support for African away from humanitarian aid and towards equal economic partnerships.
"Africa will help shape the world like never before," he said, adding: "Africa's progress is being led by Africans". The president's 2013 Power Africa has pledged aims to double electricity in Sub-Saharan African, and US run programmes aim to lift 50 million people out of poverty and double the number of children infected with HIV who are taking anti-retroviral drugs.
Leaders will discuss economic growth, security co-operation and improved governance in private talks during the day, ending the summit with an afternoon press conference. Elsewhere in Washington DC on Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush hosted a conference for spouses of the African leaders focused on education and health.
Elsewhere in Washington DC, First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush are hosting a conference for spouses of the African leaders focused on education and health.
In an open letter in Seventeen magazine, Mrs Obama described a lack of educational opportunity for young women around the world, and urged US teenagers to not take their educational opportunities for granted.In an open letter in Seventeen magazine, Mrs Obama described a lack of educational opportunity for young women around the world, and urged US teenagers to not take their educational opportunities for granted.
"As you get yourself on track for higher education, I hope you'll work to give girls around the world opportunities to attend school too," she wrote."As you get yourself on track for higher education, I hope you'll work to give girls around the world opportunities to attend school too," she wrote.
The Obamas also hosted the leaders during a group dinner at the White House on Tuesday evening. The three-day event was the first of its kind in the US, although similar summits have been held in China and Europe.
In a brief toast, Mr Obama reminisced about his family's trips to Ghana, South Africa and to his father's hometown in Kenya.
"I stand before you as the president of the United States and a proud American. I also stand before you as the son of a man from Africa," Mr Obama said, adding "the bonds between our countries, our continents, are deeply personal".
The three-day event is the first of its kind in the US, although similar summits have been held in China and Europe.
The presidents of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone cancelled their plans to attend amid an Ebola outbreak, and sent delegates instead.The presidents of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone cancelled their plans to attend amid an Ebola outbreak, and sent delegates instead.