Antony Blinken to embark on African tour from January 21-26

U.S. Secretary of State is set to start a five-day African tour from January 21 that will take him to four countries to achieve multiple purposes including advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law, the state department said in a statement.

Blinken will travel to Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Angola.

“The Secretary will 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. He will also emphasize our future-focused economic partnership, and how the United States 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,” the statement added.

The department said that the US top diplomat will also reaffirm U.S. commitment to 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).

The U.S. official will also 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 tour will be Blinken’s fourth trip to the continent as Secretary of State and his first to sub-Saharan Africa since visiting Niger in March of 2023.

It also comes on the heel of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi’s visit to several countries on the continent, including Côte d’Ivoire.
Washington has been struggling to thwart the growing influence of China and Russia in southern Africa.