More than five months have passed since Barack Obama last commented about the humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe, a period that has seen it lurch from political and economic crisis into a cholera epidemic.

A spokeswoman for the President-elect's transition team indicated yesterday that she would be willing to issue a statement on his behalf.

In contrast, President Bush repeated British-led calls for an end to Robert Mugabe's tyrannical rule that have found an echo across Europe and parts of Africa in recent days.

Although Mr Obama has been keen to avoid second-guessing the White House on foreign policy issues and emphasised that there can only be “one president at a time”, this does not explain a prolonged period of silence that now stretches back to June 24.

This apparent reluctance to join the fray is matched by that of Hillary Clinton, his nomination for Secretary of State. This week her Senate office referred requests for a comment on the subject to a statement made on June 23.

Expectations for America's first black president are high in Africa. Not only was his father from Kenya, where much of his extended family still live, but he also visited the continent three years ago, when he took courageous stances criticising South Africa's record on HIV/Aids and its quiet diplomacy towards Zimbabwe.

Mr Obama's election last month was greeted warmly by Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who said that his fellow citizens would “appreciate the true value of a vote, the preciousness of a poll that is conducted openly and fairly, and a result that is respected by all”.

Mr Mugabe offered his own congratulations, adding: “Those of us in developing countries cherish the hope of working with your administration as we pursue our programmes and policies to develop our societies.”

No one is suggesting that the President-elect is likely to take him up on this offer. Mr Obama's June statement made plain his view that the Zimbabwean Government is illegitimate.

He said that unless fresh elections were held, the US and other countries should tighten “targeted sanctions” and “pursue an enforceable, negotiated political transition in Zimbabwe that would end repressive rule”.

Most observers expect there to be little change in the policy pursued by Mr Bush's Administration, which has largely taken its lead from Britain, where a colonial past and family ties ensure that Zimbabwe receives more attention than elsewhere in the West.

Mark Bellamy, a former US Ambassador to Kenya, said: “There has been an assumption that Obama will be more engaged with Africa. This is not necessarily the case. He has a lot of other issues on his plate and even in Africa I don't think Zimbabwe will be top of the agenda.”

Susan Rice, Mr Obama's foreign policy adviser nominated for the post of UN ambassador, has stated that one of her goals will be to prevent future genocides.

Enough is enough

"President Mugabe must go" President Sarkozy

"We must stand together to ... say firmly to Mugabe that enough is enough" Gordon Brown

"The world must say ... you are going to face indictment in The Hague unless you step down" Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"It is time for Robert Mugabe to go ... We urge others from the region to join the growing chorus of voices calling for an end to Mugabe's tyranny" George Bush

"It's time for African governments to push him out of power" Raila Odinga, Kenyan Prime Minister

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