ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Commission Vice President Finda Koroma (right) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) take the stage for a speech on US Africa Policy at the Economic Community of West African States in Abuja, Nigeria, on November 19, 2021. Blinken is on a five day trip to Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. — AFP pic
ABUJA (Nigeria), Nov 19 — US President Joe Biden plans to hold a summit with African leaders to show US commitment to the continent, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced today.
“President Biden intends to host the US-Africa Leaders Summit to drive the kind of high-level diplomacy and engagement that can transform relationships and make effective cooperation possible,” Blinken said in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
Blinken, who is on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as secretary of state, did not give a date for the summit.
The move comes as China steps up engagement with Africa including through a major meeting this month in Senegal, where Blinken heads later Friday.
US allies France, Britain and Japan have also been holding regular summits with African leaders. — AFP