Barack Obama and former president George W Bush today laid a wreath at a memorial for Americans killed in the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Tanzania.
It was a rare joint public appearance by the pair. Eleven Americans were killed in the al Qaeda attack, which coincided with a bombing in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, which left hundreds dead.
Both men bowed their heads after a marine placed the wreath on a stand during a ceremony in Dar es Salaam. They shook hands with victims and their families and walked back to the embassy together. The ceremony lasted a few minutes and neither man made any public comments.
Today’s embassy visit is one of the last stops on Mr Obama’s week-long tour of the continent. Mr Bush’s institute is hosting a two-day summit on African women which was being attended by the wives of both presidents today.
While in Dar es Salaam, Mr Obama was shown a “soccket” ball, a football that captures energy during play to charge LEDs and small batteries. The US president headed the ball alongside Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete during a demonstration at the Ubungo Plaza Symbion Power Plant.
