US President, Joe Biden to visit Africa next week amidst plans to support AU

Published

2 months ago

December 9, 2022

The United States president, Joe Biden will visit Africa next week amidst plans to support the African Union’s admission to the G20 group of the world’s largest economies as a permanent member.

White House official said on Friday that president Biden will make the announcement during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington next week, White House adviser Judd Devermont said,

“We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security,” Devermont said.

Devermont said the move, first reported by the Washington Post, comes after requests from African Union Chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

South Africa is the only G20 member from Africa. The AU is made up of 55 member states.

“It’s past time Africa has permanent seats at the table in international organizations and initiatives,” Devermont said, adding that the move builds on Washington’s strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa.

The US in August announced a review of its strategic policy on sub-Saharan Africa in August, stressing the region’s importance.

U.S. relations with Liberia date back to 1819, but the relations as been threatened lately by China and Russia with which some African countries share diplomatic alignment.

US Secretary, Anthony Blinken, reveals concern over human rights in Egypt

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has revealed that the US is concerned over human right abuses in North African country, Egypt.

Blinken made the position known During a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, noting that the development top item on the agenda in talks with Egypt’s president and foreign minister during a visit to Cairo on Monday.

Human rights defenders are critical to building just and successful societies. I met with members of Egyptian civil society, heard inspiring stories of their work to protect fundamental freedoms for all, and reiterated the centrality of human rights to U.S. foreign policy. pic.twitter.com/2w3AKYe8z3

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 30, 2023

Blinken said the United States would continue to encourage Egypt to take further actions on human rights, including releasing more political prisoners and reforming pre-trial detention.

He also said holding elections in Libya this year was the only viable path to a durable solution in the country.

Musings From Abroad

Months after truce with Tigray region, US official insists Eritrean troops still at Ethiopian borders

Published

2 days ago

January 29, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Months after peace was brokered between crises involving the Ethiopian government, Eritrea, and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, a senior United State official has revealed Eritrean troops are still in Ethiopia although they have moved back the border.

The United State Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said at a news conference during a visit to the Kenyan capital Nairobi, that “with respect to Eritreans we understand they have moved back to the border and they have been asked to leave.”

The alleged presence of the Eritrean troops contradicts Ethiopian authorities’ position on the departure of the Eritreans who fought alongside the Ethiopian military and allied militias in the two-year conflict that pitted the Ethiopian government against rebellious forces in the northern region of Tigray.

Meanwhile, the allegation has been denied by a senior Ethiopia military officer briefing foreign officials on Saturday.

“There is no other security force in the Tigray region except the FDRE Defense Forces,” Major General Teshome Gemechu said, using an acronym for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian government nor any of its officials have made official reactions to the allegations. The government spokesperson Legesse Tulu, Redwan Hussein, national security advisor to the prime minister, and Colonel Getnet Adane, spokesperson to Ethiopian Army also did not respond to requests for comment on claims by Thomas-Greenfield and Getachew.