United States Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, is scheduled to visit Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola between January 21 and 26, 2024.
The US Embassy Abuja statement disclosed that throughout the visits, Secretary Blinken would highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security.
Also, he is expected to use the opportunity of the trip to emphasise the US government’s future-focused economic partnerships, and how the Washington is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost two-way trade, create jobs at home and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace.
Besides, Blinken would explore the prospects of advancing security partnerships based on shared values between US and Africa, such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law.
He would used the opportunity to reaffirm U.S. government’s commitment to America’s coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges, and U.S. efforts to support African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The United States reaffirms its sustained commitment to high-level U.S. engagement with Africa”, the statement announcing Blinken’s itinerary said.
