John Kerry
Statement By Jen Psaki Spokesperson for U.S. Department of State On Secretary of State John Kerry’s Africa Trip
Secretary Kerry will visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Kinshasa, DRC; and Luanda, Angola from April 29th through May 5th. To encourage – on the trip, he will encourage democratic development, promote respect for human rights, advance peace and security, engage with civil society and young African leaders who will shape the continent’s future, and promote trade, investment, and development partnerships in Africa. The Secretary’s trip will also highlight U.S. investments in the PEPFAR program.
In Addis Ababa, Secretary Kerry will co-convene the fourth session of the U.S.-AU High-Level Dialogue and discuss a range of issues on which we partner with the African Union. Secretary Kerry will meet with both the prime minister and the foreign minister to discuss efforts to advance peace and democracy in the region and strengthen important areas of bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia.
In Kinshasa, Secretary Kerry will meet with President Kabila and will discuss how the DRC’s government’s progress in neutralizing some of the dozens of dangerous armed groups that victimize the Congolese people can be consolidated, and how to best advance the DRC’s democratization and long-term stability, including through a timely and transparent electoral process.
In Luanda, Secretary Kerry will commend President dos Santos for Angola’s leadership of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and encourage the president’s continued personal engagement in the Great Lakes peace process. The Secretary will also discuss bilateral policy and trade issues with the foreign minister.
Finally, Secretary Kerry will also be accompanied by Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and the DRC Russ Feingold, Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth, and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Cathy Russell.
