South Africa’s president Kgalema Motlanthe was one of the first world leaders to offer congratulations to Barack Obama. “Your election to this high office of the American people carries with it hope for millions of your countrymen and women as much as it is for millions of people particularly those of African descent both in the continent of Africa as well as those in the diaspora,” Mr Motlanthe said.

He said he hoped Mr Obama’s election would “contribute significantly to efforts in the continent of Africa to help bring about ‘change they can believe in’. We express the hope that poverty and under-development in Africa which remains a challenge for humanity will indeed continue to receive a greater attention of the focus of the new administration.”