President Barack Obama travels to East Africa this weekend with a mission to strengthen U.S. security and economic ties, and promote democratic reforms and good governance.
This trip is the President’s fourth to sub-Saharan Africa during his presidency, and allows an opportunity to follow-up on the themes the President elevated during last year’s historic U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. President Obama will bring a message that our nation is a strong partner not just for the two countries he is visiting, but for Africa, generally.
His host nations, Kenya and Ethiopia, are critical allies in the battle against the Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab, and for regional stability and security, in general.President Obama’s trip marks the first time that a sitting U.S. president has visited either country. In Nairobi he will attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, which will bring entrepreneurs together from all over the world. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Government of Kenya on a range of security, economic, and governance issues of mutual interest in the U.S.-Kenya partnership. Later, he will pay tribute to the victims and survivors -- Kenyans and Americans -- of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing.
In Addis Ababa, President Obama will visit the headquarters of the African Union, another important international partner. He will meet with the African Union leadership to continue dialogue with our African partners about accelerating economic growth, strengthening democratic institutions, and improving security.
Kenya, Ethiopia and the broader region in recent years confront a broad array of challenges and opportunities. The United States stands with the people there and continuing to work together on issues of mutual interest.
