Judging by the applause at the African Union headquarters, Barack Obama hit a chord when he took aim at the continent's "Big Men," telling them they should quit when their time was up — especially since most have the cash to retire comfortably.
In joining African reformists who demand term limits be observed, the U.S. president was lining up squarely against entrenched leaders from Republic of Congo to Rwanda and Burundi who are intent on extending their years in power.
For Obama, the arguments that war-scarred populations are fearful of chaos after strong leaders depart, as has been the case in North Africa and the Middle East, do not hold true.