"Uncertain Times": Keys to the speech marking the return of Barack Obama in Nelson Mandela's honor | PICTURES | VIDEOS Trade | World | Africa

The former US president Barack Obama returned Tuesday in the political arena to fill a stadium in Johannesburg to deliver a speech in honor of the centenary of the birth Nelson Mandela One day after the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Obama called for recalling the vision of a better world that Nelson Mandela defended against "cynicism" and "politics. fear "growing. who are attacking democracy, in the commemorative conference of the centenary of the hero of the struggle against "apartheid".

Since its inception in 2003, world leaders have used the conference to talk about issues that affect South Africa, the continent, and the world.

Among the speakers who participated in the event in previous years include American businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates, the French economist Tho. But Piketty, former Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Nobel laureate and political activist Wangari Maathai, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and former US president Bill Clinton

. The first Afro-descendant president of the United States to honor the first Afro-descendant President of South Africa

Obama and his family spent eight days in the famous Serengeti National Park in Tanzania before to visit Kenya to visit the country. of his ancestors, and now he has delivered his long awaited speech in South Africa. Here are the details

– Tribute to Mandela –

"On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of" Madiba ", we are at a crossroads, a moment where two very different visions of the future of humanity compete with who we are and who we should be, "he said Obama keynote speaker at the Johannesburg Mandela Foundation speech

" Let Me You I believe in the vision of Nelson Mandela, I believe in the vision shared by Gandhi and King, I believe in justice and in the premise that we are all born equal, "said the former US President, a confessed admirer of Nelson Mandela, among the ovations

and in front of an audience of some 15,000 people and high-ranking guests such as several African heads of state or the former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, Barack Obama recounted how the example of struggle and sacrifice or Mandela should serve as an example to all who believe in democracy and equality.

"He came to embody the universal aspirations of the dispossessed around the world with the hope of a better life and the possibility of a moral transformation."

-" Uncertain Times "-

Obama presented since the beginning of his speech how he imagined that this memorial event would be because of its historical connotation. One hundred years after the birth of Nelson Mandela, the former president has done the picture of a conference with "teachers and men with links," but he added a thought

"I wondered if that was another sign of my life in which I came in, with gray hair, slightly losing sight, I thought that my daughters think that all I say is a conference I thought about the American press and how they were generally frustrated Conferences were not satisfied with two minutes of statements, "he said.

" Given the strange and uncertain times in who we are – and are strangers, and uncertain – with the daily news cycles bringing more confusion and I thought that it might be worth taking a step back and trying to to have a little perspective, so I hope it will please them, m the light show, "said the former president.

Politicians who use "policies of fear, resentment and reduction" have grown "at a rate unimaginable a few years ago."

– Racism –

In his lecture, titled "Renewing Mandela's Legacy and Promoting Active Citizenship in a Changing World" Barack Obama badured that although the history of & # 39; Madiba 'be a history of triumph, in recent times, human progress has been slowed down.

As an exe mple, he talked about international terrorism, authoritarianism in Russia, human rights violations and the advance of nationalism and racism in Europe and the United States.

"It is a fact that racial discrimination still exists both in the United States and in South Africa," he said. He also criticized, without giving names, that there are political leaders who despise "objective truth" and prefer to "invent things".

"We have no choice but to go from the front".

In fact, it is the widow of Nelson Mandela who made reference to the former president of the United States when he took the podium.

Graça Machel said that the two were, from their humble beginnings, "representatives of the mbades and reached the summit of power and influence, but in doing so they were able to elevate the rights and ambitions of dispossessed and weak, young and old, men and women, whites and blacks. "

– Climate Change –

Barack Obama said he could find a piece of land agree with people who do not agree Paris on climate change – that Donald Trump wants to withdraw from the United States – if they have an argument based on real events

However He added: "I can not find any ground if someone says that climate change is not happening, when almost every scientist in the world says yes, if you start by saying that it's an elaborate hoax, where to start? "

Later in his speech, Bara ck Obama told the audience, "They were caught [a los políticos] lying, [ahora]]" Oh, man "Now he's just lying. "

" Without facts, there is no basis for cooperation, " Obama declared at Nelson Mandela's annual conference.If I say that it is a podium and you say that it's an elephant, it will be difficult for us to cooperate. "

– Obama's Humor –

Attracting the Attention of the Assistants, Barack Obama ] frowned and waved in a serious tone: "let me start with a correction and some admissions."

Five seconds later and after a break, the clbadic humor of the former president also made his comeback. a very good dancer. I just wanted to be clear about this. Michelle Obama causing the laughter of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the entire stadium.

But he had another confession ready: "I was not really invited to come here. Graça Machel [viuda de Mandela] m ordered very cordially. "

And to put a last note of color, the predecessor of Donald Trump said:" I have forgotten my geography and the fact that it is now winter in South Africa. I did not bring a coat and I had to send someone to the mall this morning because I wear long underpants … I was born in Hawaii. "

Source: Agencies