![\"President](\"http:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/imagecache\/embedded_img_small\/image\/image_file\/p032813ps-0862.jpg?itok=035nTOIB\" "\\"President")
<\/p>\n\n President Barack Obama meets with, from left, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Joyce Banda of Malawi, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, and Prime Minister Jos\u00e9 Maria Pereira Neves of Cape Verde in the Cabinet Room of the White House, March 28, 2013.<\/p>\n
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Today President Obama welcomed President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Joyce Banda of Malawi, and Prime Minister José Maria Pereira Neves of Cape Verde to the White House. The United States has strong partnerships with these countries based on shared democratic values and shared interests. Each of these leaders has undertaken significant efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, protect and expand human rights and civil liberties, and increase economic opportunities for their people. <\/p>\n
President Obama and the visiting leaders discussed how the United States can expand our partnership to support their efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and promote economic opportunity, both in their countries and across sub-Saharan Africa. A particular focus of the conversation was on the importance of transparency and respect for human rights, and President Obama commended each leader for their work in these areas and their commitment to join the Open Government Partnership<\/a>. President Obama also commended these leaders for their leadership on food security and engaged the leaders in a fruitful conversation about how the United States can help Africa harness the potential of its young people and empower the next generation of African leaders.<\/p>\n