US Vice President, Kamala Harris sets to visit Africa

Vice president of the United States of the America, Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit Africa.

As an historic visit and to strengthen ties within the African continent, Harris is set to make her stop in Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia.

She tours the three African continent with the second gentle man, Doug Emhoff. Her visit also comes off as a competition with Russia and China over their solid ties and progressive investment within the African continent.

Kamala’s trip will be the latest of several US protocol visits to the African continent; those who have visited and plan on visiting.

The likes of past presidents Bill Clinton,George W Bush and Barack Obama. First lady, Jil Biden who returned from her Africa visit earlier this month, US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas Greenfield and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, had their visit earlier this year. Meanwhile, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken will travel to Ethiopia and Niger and US President Joe Biden is expected to visit the continent later in the year.

In a statement released by Harris’ press Secretary Kristen Allen, she mentioned the Vice President’s trip is to “strengthen the United States partnership throughout Africa and advance our shared effort on security and economic prosperity”.

Kamala Harris on her first ever visit since becoming vice president plans to build on the commitment made during the US- Africa leaders summit in December.

The president hosted nearly 50 African leaders in Washington. In her comments at the time, Harris vouched the US as the preferable choice over Beijing and Moscow.

She mentioned, “Our administration will invest our time and our energy to fortify partnerships across the continent. Partnerships grounded in candour, openness, inclusiveness, shared interests and mutual benefits”.

Adding, ” …and overall, our administration will be guided not what we can do for Africa but what we can do with Africa”.

Allen reiterated Harris will ensure the enforcement and strengthening on the message while engaging on the ground with the African diaspora.

“Throughout the trip, in partnership with African governments and the private sector, the Vice President will advance efforts to expand access to the digital economy, support climate adaptation and resilience, and strengthen business ties and investment, including thorough innovation, entrepreneurship, and the economic empowerment of women” Allen wrote.

The vice President will hold bilateral meetings with Presidents from the three countries to “discuss regional and global priorities including shared commitment to democracy, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, food security and the effects of Russia unprovoked war in Ukraine, among other issues”.

Kamala’s high profile trip starts from March 26 in Ghana to Tanzania and she ends the weeklong trip on April 1 in Zambia, before returning to Washington. It will be the first time a Black US vice president visits Africa.

Priscilla Amoah