Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Africa later this month:

The Citizen:

A part of the US efforts to bolster ties with African countries, a number of US officials are recently making frequent visits to the African continent obviously to counter the increasing presence of Russia in Africa in recent months particularly after war broke out between Ukraine and Russia last year.

CNN reported today that Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Africa later this month, becoming the most senior Biden administration official to visit the continent.

Her trip comes as the administration seeks to bolster its relationships with African countries, as competitors like Russia and China have made inroads in the region.

Harris is scheduled to visit Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia in a historic trip, her first visit to the continent since becoming vice president. And it will be the first time a Black US vice president visits the region.

In a statement, Harris’ press secretary Kirsten Allen said the vice president’s trip will “strengthen the United States’ partnerships throughout Africa and advance our shared effort on security and economic prosperity.”

Harris’ trip is the latest of several US officials who plan on visiting, or have visited, Africa. First lady Jill Biden returned from her trip to Africa earlier this month. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield visited earlier this year. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Ethiopia and Niger this week, and President Joe Biden is expected to visit the continent later this year.

She plans to build on the commitments made during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in December, when the president hosted nearly 50 African leaders in Washington. In her remarks at the time, Harris framed the US as the preferable choice over Beijing and Moscow.

Allen said Harris will focus on strengthening that message while engaging on the ground with the African Diaspora.