What will Obama mean for Africa?

In 2006, reporting on an Obama visit to Kenya, Time magazine asked not only what Africa could do for Obama, but as the saying goes, what he could do for Africa.

As the news of his historic victory in the US presidential elections sinks in, the media and the blogosphere are reflecting today on the implications of an Obama administration for Africa.

The South African Times concludes that policy will not be markedly different under the Democrat; Vanguard in Nigeria collects the comments of government ministers and a human rights activist; the Kigali New Times reports on the hopes of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda that Obama's victory will inspire Africa to do better and more for themselves; and a bewildering array of reactions and reportage on the news on AllAfrica.com.

Meanwhile, as the eyes of the world focussed on the polling booths of America, many Western news outlets could spare an occasional cutaway spot to coverage of the reaction in Africa, including the Chicago Tribune.

John Liebhart collates comments from bloggers back in July, on Voices without Votes, including an interesting reflection from South Africa on whether that nation is ready for a white President. Meanwhile, theleoafricanus says 'We’re celebrating this week. Next week we start asking questions.'

For background a useful summary of policy indications from the Guardian, although of course, the President-elect is notoriously difficult to predict.

Alertnet want to know what you think:

As Africans celebrate the election of Barack Obama, hopes are high that America's first black president will tackle poverty, hunger, conflict and disease across the continent.

But what reason is there to suppose Obama's commitment to Africa will be any greater than that of U.S. President George W. Bush, whose efforts to draw attention and aid for combating diseases in Africa has been one of the few widely hailed successes of his foreign policy agenda?

Read and add your comments on the Alertnet website, or below.