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Secretary Clinton: Travel to Africa, August 3-14, 2009


August 3, 2009 to August 14, 2009

Interactive Travel Map | "Text the Secretary" a Question About the Trip | Photo Gallery (Flickr)

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton began a seven-nation trip to Africa at the 8th U.S. – Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (known as the AGOA Forum) in Nairobi, Kenya.

This trip highlights the Obama administration’s commitment to making Africa a priority in U.S. foreign policy. This is the earliest in any U.S. administration that both the President and the Secretary of State have visited Africa.

While in Kenya, Secretary Clinton discussed new approaches to development, including an emphasis on investment and broad-based economic growth. The Secretary was joined in Kenya by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, and Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

During the visit to Kenya, the Secretary delivered a speech at the Ministerial Opening Ceremony for the AGOA Forum, participated in bilateral meetings with Kenya’s senior leaders, discussed global hunger and agricultural issues at a major research institute, and engaged with Kenyan citizens. She also met with Sheikh Sharif Amed, the President of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government.

The Secretary continues her travel with stops in South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Liberia, and Cape Verde. In each nation, she will emphasize Africa as a place of opportunity, built on an ethic of responsibility. She will underline America’s commitment to partner with governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and private citizens to build societies where each individual can realize their potential.

In her bilateral meetings and other events, she will encourage new solutions to old challenges, harnessing the power of innovation and technology to provide a foundation for future stability, human development, and sustainable economic growth. She will stress the importance of facilitating social and economic entrepreneurship, encouraging a new generation of young African scientists, small business leaders, entrepreneurs and civic leaders who are solving real problems and establishing new models for economic success and social advances, with women as full partners in this progress. And she will discuss ways to foster good regional governance, partnering with regional leaders to band together to prevent conflict and violence, including gender-based violence, democratic erosions, and transnational threats.

Following her visit to Cape Verde, the Secretary will return to Washington, DC.

Remarks
-08/06/09 Interview With Bill Odidi of Metro FM
-08/06/09 Interview With Fatuma Sanbur of IQRA FM
-08/06/09 Interview With Seanice Kacungira of Capital FM
-08/06/09 Embassy Meet and Greet
-08/06/09 Remarks by Secretary Clinton at Wreath Laying at Memorial Park Commemorating Victims of August 7, 1998 Embassy Bombings
-08/06/09 Remarks with Somali Transitional Federal Government President Ahmed
-08/06/09 "Townterview" Hosted by CNN and KTN
-08/05/09 Remarks at AGOA Gala Dinner
-08/05/09 Remarks by Secretary Clinton at Launch of the Bilateral Investment Treaty with Mauritius
-08/05/09 Remarks with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Kenya’s Minister for Agriculture William Ruto at the Kenyan Agriculture Institute
-08/05/09 Remarks at the 8th Forum of the AGOA Act
-08/05/09 Remarks by Secretary Clinton With Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula
-08/04/09 Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson Previews Secretary Clinton's Trip to Africa
-07/30/09 Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson Briefs on Secretary Clinton's Upcoming Trip to Africa
-07/23/09 Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson and Other State Officials Brief on the Upcoming AGOA Forum

Press Releases
-08/05/09 United States Launches Investment Treaty Negotiations with Mauritius

Related Information
8th AGOA Forum