Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, is scheduled to embark on official visits to Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Angola, and Cabo Verde from January 21 to 26, 2024. This announcement was made by Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the United States Department of State, on Thursday. The primary objective of Secretary Blinken’s visits is to assess the impact of the U.S.-Africa partnership on socio-economic conditions in the mentioned African countries.
The statement released by the U.S. Department of State outlines the key focus areas of Secretary Blinken’s trip. It emphasizes the accelerated U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, particularly in critical areas such as climate, food, and health security. Secretary Blinken is expected to underscore the forward-looking economic collaboration between the U.S. and Africa, emphasizing U.S. investment in African infrastructure to boost bilateral trade, create domestic and continental jobs, and enhance Africa’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.
In addition to economic cooperation, the Secretary will advance security partnerships grounded in shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and the expansion of the rule of law. Specific attention will be given to the U.S. commitment to coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. The statement also highlights U.S. collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges and efforts to support African leadership in resolving conflicts, particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The U.S. Department of State reaffirms the sustained commitment to high-level U.S. engagement with Africa, building on the momentum generated by the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in December. This summit demonstrated a renewed commitment from the United States to expand partnerships with African countries, institutions, and people, including a planned investment of $55 billion in Africa over the next three years.
As part of this revitalized cooperation, U.S. and African businesses, governments, and investors have already showcased investments and partnerships, with a current valuation of $16.2 billion, facilitated through the U.S.-Africa Business Forum. The commitment to ongoing collaboration is underscored, with a commitment to updating the public as these engagements and investments continue to evolve.
