According to an announcement made by her office on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris will make her first trip to Africa later this month. With this trip, she will become the highest-ranking person from the Biden administration to ever visit Africa.
Her travel comes at a time when the government is attempting to strengthen its connections with African countries in the face of increased competition in the area from countries such as Russia and China.
Being the first African American woman to occupy the vice presidency, Harris will embark on a historic tour in which she will visit Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia. While there, she will conduct bilateral talks with the presidents of all three nations. Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, will accompany her on the journey.
Kirsten Allen, who serves as the press secretary for Harris, issued a statement in which she stated that the trip the vice president would take will “strengthen the United States’ connections throughout Africa and advance our joint endeavor on security and economic growth.”
The first lady of the United States, Jill Biden, had just returned from a trip to Africa when she made this journey.
“During the course of the trip, in partnership with African governments and the private sector, the Vice President will advance efforts to expand access to the digital economy, support climate adaptation and resilience, and strengthen business ties and investment, including through innovation, entrepreneurship, and the economic empowerment of women,” Allen wrote. “These goals will be pursued in an effort to advance the vice president’s agenda of expanding access to the digital economy, supporting climate adaptation and resilience, and strengthening business ties and investment.”
