What Should Zuma Tell Obama?

the Obamas are coming because they have an agenda. Part of the aim is certainly to compete with the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India and China, alongside South Africa) in the scramble for African resources, and in particular to challenge China’s ascendency. Other political and economic motives are at play too. How should South Africa respond? Let me pretend for a moment that I am Zuma’s international relations adviser, Lindiwe Zulu. What would I tell my boss? I would raise substantive issues and I would be forthright. I would tell him that his American guest’s long-awaited "historic" second trip to Africa comes at a time when the differences between Washington and Pretoria are real and palpable, yet in a curious sense it is a very cordial relationship.