US Acting Deputy Secretary of State on an African tour

Victoria Nuland, the Acting Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, has embarked on an African tour to take her to South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, July 29 to August 4, the State Department has announced.

In South Africa, the acting second-in-command at the State Department was to lead the U.S. delegation participating in the U.S.-South Africa Working Group on African and Global Issues (WGAGI), the department said. V. Nuland is also expected to meet with senior South African government leaders and leaders in the energy sector.

The department also announced that Nuland, for the second stop, will head to Cote d’Ivoire where she will have encounters with Ivorian government leaders to discuss regional peace and security issues, economic cooperation, and support for democratic governance.

In DR Congo, her last stop of the tour,  the US diplomat will meet with senior government leaders to discuss US support for free and fair elections, peace and security in the eastern DRC, humanitarian assistance, economic prosperity, and democratic institutions and governance.

The tour comes amid growing ties between Russia and African countries. A junta in Niger has seized power after removing Washington’s ally elected President Mohamed Bazoum.