Blinken arrives in Cape Verde to launch tour of West Africa
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Cape Verde yesterday to begin a week-long tour of West Africa, where he is seeking to champion American investment as China and Russia look to expand their influence in the region.
The National is travelling with Mr Blinken during the trip, which will also involve discussion of regional issues in the Sahel and security challenges in Nigeria. This is Mr Blinken’s first visit to sub-Saharan Africa in 10 months, as he briefly shifts his focus from the Israel-Gaza war.
Mr Blinken began his visit to Cape Verde by meeting Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva and touring Praia Harbour in the island nation’s capital.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation invested more than $54 million to revamp the harbour from 2005 to 2010. The port is Cape Verde’s biggest, and provides one of Africa’s smallest countries with more than 50 per cent of its container traffic.
Mr Blinken touted Washington’s involvement in the project as an example of US investment in the region.
“All of that has created an incredibly vibrant place, a much stronger gateway to Africa for us and other countries,” he said, adding that the port project was “further evidence” that “the United States is all in with Africa”.
“We see Africa as an essential, critical, central part of our future,” he said.
Mr Blinken arrived only days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited several African countries, including the Ivory Coast, where Mr Blinken was scheduled to travel from Cape Verde late yesterday.
The US has struggled to counter the growing influence of China and Russia. China has invested heavily in Cape Verde and Beijing’s presence can be felt throughout the capital, for instance with some signs in Chinese, Mr Blinken said.
“This trip … really does focus on President [Joe] Biden’s commitment and conviction that the United States and Africa are joined in partnership for the future.”
Molly Phee, US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, rebuffed suggestions that Mr Blinken was travelling to the region to compete with any other country.
“Africa is important for its own sake, and it’s important for American interests,” she said.
As well as Cape Verde and the Ivory Coast, Mr Blinken will travel to Nigeria and Angola.
Mr Blinken is due to attend a football match at the Africa Cup of Nations during his visit to the Ivorian capital of Abidjan. He previously announced that the US will provide $45 million in new funding to help the Ivory Coast and its neighbours prevent conflict and to promote stability in the face of regional threats.
On his last trip to the region in March last year, Mr Blinken became the highest-ranking US official to visit Niger, hoping
Blinken arrived only days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited several African countries, including the Ivory Coast
to show support for elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
US investments are helping countries like the Ivory Coast address underlying drivers of conflict, the State Department said.
“These efforts are yielding results, as local communities and security officials work together to enhance early warning systems, push back on fake news, and counter violent extremism,” it added.
In Nigeria, Mr Blinken is expected to discuss the security challenges facing the country, including threats from ISIS and Boko Haram.
In Angola, he is expected to discuss the Lobito project, a joint effort with the EU and regional partners to develop a rail corridor connecting Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.