U.S. Secretary Of State, Antony J. Blinken Departs Kenya After Strengthening Ties, Heading To Nigeria, Africa's Most Populous Country With Biggest Opportunities And Challenges

Here are our top stories today. U.S. Secretary of State AntonyJ. Blinken departed Kenya on Thursday after strengthening ties with a key U.S. partner, and headed to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country where he is scheduled to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama to discuss furthering cooperation on global health security, expanding energy access and economic growth, and revitalizing democracy.

Blinken will deliver a speech on U.S.-Africa policy in the capital of Africa’s largest democracy. Additionally, the Secretary will engage with Nigerian entrepreneurs in the digital sector. “Kwaheri Kenya! Asante Sana to President Kenyatta and the people of Kenya for your hospitality and generosity.

This important visit underlined the strength of the U.S- Kenya partnership,” Blinken said in a tweet as he was leaving Kenya for Nigeria. In Kenya, Blinken met with President Uhuru Kenyatta and other senior officials, including Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Raychelle Omamo. Both countries agreed to work on a wide range of issues, including to resolve the crises in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia.

In Nigeria, Blinken will have a different set of challenges to confront. His meeting with Vice President Osinbajo, a Christian from the South, will be critical, as Nigerians look beyond Buhari, a Muslim from the North, and the Yoruba ethnic group, one of the most influential in Nigeria, is insisting that power should return to the South in 2023 and are warning that any attempt by Buhari to try to transfer power to another person from the north after 8 years in power may throw Africa’s most populous country into total chaos, doom and gloom. And that is our top story today.