Blinken Discusses ‘Plans to Advance’ US Pledges to Africa with AU Chair

ADDIS ABABA – African Union Chair and United States top diplomat discussed issues of mutual interests including Washington’s recent pledges to empower Africa.

AU Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat received State Secretary Antony Blinken at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa earlier today.

US Officials saw the meeting between Mahamat and Blinken as a “chance to follow up issues raised in lots of discussions” during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit last December.

The three-day summit ended with the U.S. making various commitments ranging from President Joe Biden’s promise to visit the continent to more trade missions.

The commitments also include for the U.S. to invest some $55 billion in Africa in the next three years.

During his meeting with Mahamat, Blinken said,
“We discussed plans to advance the commitments we made during” the Summit.

The discussion covered “ways to foster peace, security, and prosperity” in the continent, he said, stating “supporting African Union’s Agenda 2063 and deepening our partnership are top priorities”.

“productive talks”

Apart from regional issues, Blinken and Mahamat conferred on the progress in the implementation of the AU-brokered peace deal that ended the two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia.

The peace agreement was a focus of most of Blinken’s meetings including the signatories as well as senior federal and regional government officials and civil societies.

Before departing today, the state Secretary described the talks as “productive”, saying they were focused on consolidating peace and advancing Ethiopia’s democracy, security, and prosperity.

“We support the critical steps Ethiopians need to take for recovery and reconciliation,” he said in a tweet.

Belinken has left Addis Ababa for Niger where he plans to shore up efforts to counter the expansion of jihadist groups in the Sahel.