PRESIDENT Biden has dispatched Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee to Lagos and Abuja for a meeting with civil society, youth, the private sector, religious leaders, election officials, political party leaders, and government representatives.
The visit will underscore the U.S. commitment to supporting free and fair elections in February and March.
Phee will also be in South Africa and Ethiopia. The trip is between February 5 and 19.
“In South Africa, Assistant Secretary Phee will participate in the University Partnerships Initiative Summit at the Future Africa Campus of the University of Pretoria to show U.S. support for advancing higher education across the continent of Africa. In addition, she will meet with South African leaders in politics, business, and civil society.
“In Ethiopia, Assistant Secretary Phee will be joined by Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the Special Presidential Representative for U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Implementation, and other U.S. officials. Their travel will coincide with the African Union (AU) Summit and focus on follow up to U.S. commitments. They will meet with heads of state and ministers attending the summit. This visit is an example of U.S. action to deepen and expand our partnership with African governments, businesses, and publics to meet the shared challenges and opportunities of our era.”
A statement by the Department of State added: “The United States reaffirms the value of a strong African Union and welcomes the AU’s leadership on the global stage. We are proud of our dynamic partnership with the AU, its member states, and the peoples of Africa. We are dedicated to working together to advance our shared global priorities to foster openness and open societies, deliver democratic and security dividends, promote pandemic recovery and economic opportunity, and support conservation, climate adaptation, and a just energy transition.”
