US President Barack Obama (C) and his family walk to the helicopter to depart for travel to Africa from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

(VOVworld)- US President Barack Obama on Wednesday left Washington for an 8-day tour of Africa. This is the first tour of Africa since US President Obama started his second term of office in 2012. Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Adviser for strategic communication said that US President’s visit reflects US’s acknowledgement of being a more important region in the world and where US will put more influence in the coming years. Jay Carney, President Barack Obama's second White House Press Secretary said that Obama will first stop in Senegal and then go on to South Africa and Tanzania. Talks between President Obama and African leaders will focus on boosting relationship between the US and African countries in particular and the whole region in general including economic development, trade and investment, food security, poverty reduction, anti-terrorism and democratic mechanisms for US interest and for all African leaders. Obama visited Africa the first time in 2009.