US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa in 10 months, according to an announcement from the State Department on Thursday. This move comes as Russia and China actively pursue strategic interests in the region.
Following a series of intense tours in the Middle East triggered by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Blinken is scheduled to visit Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Angola, and Cape Verde starting this Monday.
During his visit, Blinken aims to engage in discussions on economic growth and foster security partnerships based on shared values, including respect for human rights, the promotion of democracy, and the expansion of the rule of law, as stated by State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
On his previous sub-Saharan Africa visit, Blinken made history as the highest-ranking US official ever to visit Niger. His focus was on supporting the fragile democracy and addressing the country’s role in combating Sahel militants.
Unfortunately, within four months of Blinken’s last visit, Niger witnessed a military coup that ousted the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The newly installed prime minister of Niger recently visited Russia for talks on enhancing military cooperation.
Russia, particularly through its influential Wagner mercenary group, has also been actively involved in Mali, the Central African Republic, and reportedly Burkina Faso.
Ivory Coast emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of the Niger coup, endorsing sanctions. President Alassane Ouattara even considered the possibility of joint West African military action to restore democracy.
Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy and the headquarters of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, also expressed opposition to its neighbor’s coup.
During his upcoming visit, Blinken is scheduled to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who assumed office last year with commitments to economic reforms. This marks Blinken’s second visit as the top US diplomat to Nigeria, with planned stops in both the capital, Abuja, and the largest city, Lagos.
Despite US President Joe Biden’s earlier pledge of increased interest in Africa during a meeting with African leaders in December 2022, his promised visit in 2023 did not materialize. The likelihood of a trip this year seems increasingly uncertain as he focuses on his reelection campaign.
