The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Nigeria, Angola Cabo Verde, and Cote d'Ivore between January 21 and 26, 2024. US Department of State spokesman, Matthew Miller, made this public in a statement on Thursday. The visit is part of the United State's high-level engagement with Africa, with the Secretary of State planning to travel to Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola during this diplomatic mission. Throughout the trip, the Secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the US-Africa partnership since the US-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security. The Secretary will advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law.
"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.
“Additionally, the Secretary will advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law.
“He will reaffirm US commitment to our coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States to address regional challenges, and US 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 statement added.
Blinken visited Nigeria in November 2021, where he met with the former Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and discussed the increasing collaboration between Nigeria and the US.
