US Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to three African countries this month, she said on Monday, as Washington looks to strengthen diplomatic ties on the continent.
The trip to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia from March 25 to April 2 follows the December summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Washington with US leaders and partners from Africa, a continent where China and Russia are enjoying themselves.
Harris Tour
The purpose of Harris’s tour is to “strengthen the United States’ partnership across Africa and to pursue joint efforts for security and economic prosperity,” a statement from the vice president’s office said.
Harris will meet with President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Samia Hassan of Tanzania and President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia with topics including democracy, economic growth, food security and the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on the agenda.
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“The Vice President will advance efforts to expand access to the digital economy, support climate adaptation and resilience, and strengthen business and investment relationships,” the statement said.
Harris will be accompanied by her husband, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, and will also meet with civil society representatives.
Africa’s permanent seat on the UN Security Council
The December summit was the first since African leaders arrived in 2014 to see Barack Obama, whose successor Donald Trump has made no secret of his lack of interest in Africa, which has heated up as a diplomatic battleground after Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine. year.
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In September, Biden asked for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council, supported a permanent role for the African Union in the Group of 20 economies and said he was planning a visit – the first by a US president since 2015 – to sub-Saharan Africa. .
His wife, Jill Biden, reaffirmed her commitment to helping African countries gain a louder voice at the UN and other international bodies during a trip to Namibia and Kenya in February.
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