Blinken kicks off his African tour in Nairobi

INA-  sources

US SecretIG of State Anthony Blinken arrived at dawn on Wednesday in Nairobi, the first leg of his first tour since taking office, to countries in sub-Saharan Africa, during which he will focus on democracy and climate change, even though the crises of Ethiopia and Sudan put security issues at the fore.
 
 
On his tour, which will continue until Saturday, the US diplomat will visit three countries that are essential in President Joe Biden’s African strategy, starting with Kenya, Washington’s traditional ally in a region that is witnessing an increasing Chinese presence, and then Nigeria, the continent’s largest country in terms of population, and ending with Senegal, which is an example For a stable democracy on a continent that has often experienced bloody conflicts.

Sub-Saharan Africa will be the latest in Blinken’s schedule of visits, which was hampered after his first months in office by the “Covid-19” pandemic and its preventive measures, and the events that accompanied the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
 
In the absence of his direct visits, Blinken maintained virtual contact with African officials, and Kenyan President Uhur Kenyatta visited the White House where he met Biden.
 
Blinken hopes that in the Biden administration, he will set a different path for former US President Donald Trump, who did not hide his weak interest in Africa, and was the first US president in decades not to make any visit to the continent.