BY JIBRIL TURE

In an effort to follow up on peace and security-related discussions U.S. officials had with African leaders during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington in mid-December, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is flying to Africa this week (March 14-17). The visit will include two stops: Ethiopia and Niger.

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he will arrive on March 14, the secretary will discuss the implementation of the agreement to end the war and bring about peace and promote transitional justice in the northern region of the country. Building on U.S. massive efforts to provide humanitarian assistance via food delivery, as well as security and human rights, the top U.S. diplomat will meet with partners who share the same commitment.

While in the city that houses the headquarters of the African Union, Mr. Blinken will meet with the chairperson of the Pan-African organization, Moussa Faki Mahamat. The two officials are scheduled to discuss what a press release from the office of the U.S. State Department’s spokesperson, Ned Price, has termed “shared global and regional priorities,” and “follow up on commitments from the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit regarding food security, climate, and a just energy transition, the African diaspora, and global health.”

Antony Blinken will make history by being the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit the little-discussed West African Sahelian nation of Niger.

While in Niamey, the capital of Niger, on March 16, the U.S. leading diplomat will meet with President Mohamed Bazoum and his Nigerien counterpart, Hassoumi Massaoudou. U.S.-Niger partnership on diplomacy, democracy, development, and defense will be the focus of the meetings.

In that context, Blinken will also speak with Nigerien youths from the country’s conflict zone whose contribution to bringing peace has led to the completion of a program known as Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, and Reconciliation (DDRR).

Here too, U.S. commitment to Africa stated during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit about global and regional peace, security, and governance, and the climate crisis will top the discussions.

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