U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s highly anticipated trip to Africa is an opportunity to position the United States to “play a significant role in supporting” the continent and to “highlight the important relationship,” according to a senior American official.
“It’s not only based on economic and commercial development, but in the context of building a strong institution, governance and security as well as human rights,” a senior State Department official said during a background briefing Friday.
In his first trip to Africa as the top U.S. diplomat, Tillerson will meet with leaders from Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria during his travels from March 6-13.
Washington’s vision of a genuinely inclusive political process in Ethiopia, Kenya and other African nations includes institution-building, peaceful transitions of power, and holding governments accountable to the people, the official said.
In Ethiopia, officials have declared a state of emergency amid widespread anti-government protests that have persisted for more than two years. In Kenya, there is a growing demand for political diversity.
Secretary Tillerson’s trip next week is also seen as a good opportunity for the U.S. to reaffirm ties with African nations, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump referred to the continent and Haiti in a derogatory manner earlier this year.
Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield told VOA on Friday that Africans will welcome the top U.S. diplomat with open arms.
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