US President George Bush left Washington last night on a political safari to Africa which will take in five countries that have made progress in democratic or economic development: Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria and Uganda.
The visit is the first by a Republican US president to Africa, and comes at a time when the Bush administration is concerned that poor African nations with Muslim populations could become bases of international terrorism.
Some of the highest rates of worldwide anti-American sentiment are found in Africa and the US is keen to show that it is sensitive to issues plaguing the continent, such as AIDS, the fight against which Mr Bush has committed $15 billion in aid.
The visit coincides with a new phase of aggressive US diplomacy in Africa, with Mr Bush considering sending American peacekeeping forces to Liberia and urging the restoration of full democracy in Zimbabwe.
Mr Bush said yesterday he had not yet made a final decision on troop deployment.
"The one thing that must happen is [Liberia's president] Charles Taylor has got to leave," he told the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
The first US military experts arrived in Liberia in full combat gear yesterday to report on the situation there.
Administration officials say Mr Bush has taken heed of warnings about ignoring Africa from such diverse figures as rock star Bono and Mr Colin Powell, the first African American to serve as US Secretary of State, who is said to be "deadly serious" about tackling Africa's chronic problems.
Overshadowing the visit is a decision last week by Mr Bush to cut military aid to several African countries, including South Africa, for not supporting the US position on the International Criminal Court.
Mr Bush has also declined to attend the largest annual meeting of African leaders at this week's African Union summit to be held in Mozambique.
Mr Bush told SABC that South Africa should insist on democratic elections in Zimbabwe but conceded that "so far, diplomacy hasn't worked, that's part of the problem".
Asked why he did not embrace debt relief in Africa as enthusiastically as in Iraq, Mr Bush replied, "Well, let me start with the HIV programme. I mean, enthusiasm is to the tune of $15 billion, that's pretty darn enthusiastic, to deal with the pandemic." He said that countries applying for this money must "embrace the habits of a free country, like transparency, anti-corruption, making sure the people are educated and receive health care". Mr Bush is not expected to meet Mr Nelson Mandela, who has criticised him severely over Iraq.
Mr Bush defended the US-led invasion of Iraq, saying: "I also believe it's necessary when we see people enslaved, to work on behalf of their freedom." He did not mention weapons of mass destruction, the primary reason for the US invasion, which have not been found.