US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday embarked on his first virtual trip to Africa, wherein he met with leaders of Kenya and Nigeria and engaged with young people from across the continent.
The secretary began his trip with a meeting with alumni from the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI). According to an agenda released by the State Department, Blinken exchanged views with the young leaders on a variety of topics, including “the role of youth in the future of Africa, economic development, democracy, and good governance, climate change, and health.” Through YALI, the US works with its public and private partners to develop opportunities to “support the creativity, innovativeness, and energy of Africa’s youth.”
Blinken then travelled virtually to Nigeria, where he spoke with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama. The leaders discussed global economic recovery, national and regional security challenges, efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, and the debilitating effects of climate change in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. PM Buhari reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting global efforts to address global warming and congratulated the US for re-joining the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement, and for convening the Global Leaders Summit on Climate.
An official readout of their conversation from the State Department says that leaders “reaffirmed the strong partnership between the United States and Nigeria, founded upon shared democratic ideals and a spirit of transparency and cooperation.” Blinken also emphasised on the US’ renewed commitment to “multilateral institutions and noted the constructive leadership role Nigeria plays in global affairs.”
The Secretary then went on to Kenya, where he held talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Raychelle Omamo. The leader discussed their countries’ bilateral strategic partnership, and Blinken emphasised the US’ commitment to work with Kenya to advance their mutual interests related to “democracy, human rights, economic ties, anti-corruption, refugees and their host communities, global health, regional security, and climate change.”
Kenyatta congratulated America on “taking [its] leadership position back” and being “back on the scene” with respect to climate change, and said that Nairobi looked forward to cooperating with Washington on addressing global warming, climate change, and the security situation in eastern and central Africa. Blinken expressed the US’ concern about the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in Tigray and the threats posed by the extension of Somali President Farmajo’s term to the stability of Somalia and the campaign against al-Shabaab. The Secretary also said that he welcomed the opportunity to work closely with Kenya on the UN Security Council on matters of international concern.
RECAP: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s Virtual Africa Tour
Blinken met with leaders of Kenya and Nigeria and engaged with young people from across the continent.
April 28, 2021
SOURCE: REUTERS