US Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia in a bid to strengthen ties with Africa



US Vice President Kamala Harris will visit three African countries this month, the statement said on Monday as Washington seeks to strengthen diplomatic ties on the continent.

The trip to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia from March 25 to April 2 comes after a December summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Washington with US leaders and their counterparts from Africa, a continent where Chinese and Russian influence is growing.

Harris tour

Harris’ trip is aimed at “strengthening the United States’ partnerships across Africa and advancing our common efforts for security and economic prosperity,” the vice president’s office said in a statement.

Harris is scheduled to meet with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, Tanzania’s President Samia Hassan and Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema to discuss topics such as democracy, economic growth, food security and the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

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“The Vice President will advance efforts to expand access to the digital economy, support climate change adaptation and resilience, and strengthen business ties and investment,” the statement said.

Harris will be accompanied by her husband, the second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, and she will also meet with representatives of civil society.

African permanent seat on the UN Security Council

The December summit was the first of its kind since African leaders traveled to meet Barack Obama in 2014, whose successor Donald Trump has made no secret of his lack of interest in Africa, which has become even more bitter as a diplomatic battlefield since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. last year. year.

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In September, Biden called for Africa to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, supported the African Union’s permanent role in the G20, and said he plans to visit — the first visit by a US president since 2015 — to sub-Saharan Africa. .

His wife, Jill Biden, reaffirmed her commitment to helping African countries gain a stronger voice at the UN and other international organizations during a trip to Namibia and Kenya in February.

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