Trump is sending his Secretary of State to Africa as he continues charm offensive after 'shithole' comments

david nganga

March 2, 2018 6:48 PM

It will be his first visit to the continent since President Donald Trump entered office.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to Africa next week, the State department said Thursday.

Tillerson will visit five African countries among them Kenya, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Nigeria in what will be his first visit to the continent since President Donald Trump entered office.

During the March 6-13 trip, Tillerson plans to discuss ways to counter terrorism, advance peace and security, promote good governance, and spur mutually beneficial trade and investment.

He will also meet with the leadership of each country as well as that of the African Union Commission based in Addis Ababa.

The trip comes weeks after referred Trump referred to Haiti and African nations as "shithole countries" during a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House.

The remark drew outrage around the world and prompted several African governments to demand explanations from their US ambassadors despite the US head-of-state denying making such comments.

david nganga