Story highlights
- In Obama's last stop on an African visit, he pushes for partnerships on energy
- He also attended a wreath-laying ceremony with former President George W. Bush
- The ceremony was at the memorial for those killed in a 1998 terror attack
President Barack Obama concluded his trip to Africa Tuesday after making a final pitch for partnership at a Tanzanian power plant.
Some 70% of Africans lack access to reliable electricity, Obama said, and the United States can help bring more power on line.
"The first step that we're going to take is to try to bring electricity to 20 million homes and businesses," he said.
The president spoke at the Symbion Power Plant at Ubungo, was had been idle until the Tanzanian government used U.S. help to revamp it.
"This is just the beginning. We look forward to even more companies joining this effort," he said.
Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – President Barack Obama kicks around an energy-generating soccer ball at a power plant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Tuesday, July 2. Obama was pushing for partnerships in energy as he concluded a three-nation trip to Africa. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, third from right, joined Obama at the Symbion Power Plant at Ubungo.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Tanzania's president, left, watches as Obama plays with the energy-generating soccer ball at the Symbion Power Plant on July 2. "I don't want to get too technical, but I thought it was pretty cool," Obama said of the ball that harnesses kinetic energy to provide power.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Former President George W. Bush joins Obama during a July 2 wreath-laying ceremony in Dar es Salaam to honor the victims of the 1998 terror attack at the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – A Tanzanian band plays as the U.S. president and first lady Michelle Obama arrive in Dar es Salaam on Monday, July 1.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Traditional dancers perform as Tanzanian first lady Mama Salma Kikwete greets Michelle Obama in Dar es Salaam on July 1.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete toasts Obama during an official dinner at the State House in Dar Es Salaam on July 1.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Obama and Kikwete, right, are greeted by a cheering crowd as they arrive at the State House in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Monday, July 1.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Ahmed Kathrada, a former fellow prisoner with Nelson Mandela, shows the Obama family around Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa, on Sunday, June 30. The island, where prisoners were banished and isolated during the apartheid era, is now a museum.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Obama looks out the window of the cell on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Obama delivers a speech at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 30.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Obama visits the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre with Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and 15-year-old Aviwe Mtongana in Cape Town on June 30.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Obama, foreground left, and first lady Michelle Obama, beside him, are greeted by South African President Jacob Zuma and his wife, Tobeka Madiba Zuma, on the steps of the Union Buildings upon their arrival in Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday June 29.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Obama answers a question during a town hall meeting at the University of Johannesburg Soweto in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 29.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Obama and Zuma speak during a press conference at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 29.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Marine One takes off as the Obamas leave the Union Buildings on June 29 in Pretoria.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Michelle Obama participates in a discussion with students on the importance of education June 29 at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – USAID administrator Rajiv Shah, left, looks on as Obama talks to Nimna Diayte, president of the Farmers Federation, during a food security expo on Friday, June 28, in Dakar, Senegal. Obama met with farmers, innovators, and entrepreneurs whose new methods and technologies are improving the lives of smallholder farmers throughout West Africa.
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Obama's tour of Africa – Obama shows the White House press corps what rice looks like before it's threshed on June 28 in Dakar.
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Obama's tour of Africa – Obama toasts with Senegalese President Macky Sall during an official dinner at the Presidential Palace in Dakar on Thursday, June 27.
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Obama's tour of Africa – Barack and Michelle Obama look out from the Door of No Return while touring the House of Slaves at Goree Island off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday, June 27.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – Senegal's President Macky Sall, right, and Sall's wife, Marieme Faye Sall, left, welcome the president and first lady as they arrive at the presidential palace prior to meetings in Dakar on June 27.
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Photos: Photos: Obama's tour of Africa
Obama's tour of Africa – President Obama reviews an honor guard outside the presidential palace in Dakar on June 27.
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Obama's tour of Africa – Obama talks with Sall during a bilateral press conference on June 27.
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Obama's tour of Africa – Obama and Sall walk to a press conference.
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Obama's tour of Africa – Obama talks on June 27 during a press conference.
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Obama's tour of Africa – Obama speaks with locals as he tours Goree Island off the coast of Dakar on June 27.
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South African student raps for Obama 01:18
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Such partnerships create more jobs and exports in the United States, he said.
Before his remarks, Obama kicked around an energy-generating soccer ball that harnesses kinetic energy to provide power.
"I don't want to get too technical, but I thought it was pretty cool," Obama said.
Also Tuesday, Obama was joined by former President George W. Bush for a wreath-laying ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, the site of a 1998 terror attack that killed 10 Tanzanians and injured more than 85 Americans and Tanzanians.
Survivors of the bombing were present as Obama and Bush stood by the wreath at a memorial that is on a piece of rock under a big tree near the entrance to the embassy.
Obama was in Africa to promote an increased partnership amid criticism the United States has, outside of military interests, focused its attention on other areas of the world.
