Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns is traveling to Africa from April 19 to April 25 on a seven-nation tour to expand relations with key African partners in the areas of democracy, sustainable economic development, health and education, and peace and security.
In Senegal Under Secretary Burns has scheduled meetings with President Abdoulaye Wade and other senior Senegalese officials to discuss democratic reforms and our close cooperation on counternarcotics and counterterrorism. Under Secretary Burns will also participate in a roundtable with representatives of non-governmental organizations. In Liberia, he will meet President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, as well as Liberian political opposition figures, on continuing Liberian efforts to build political and economic stability. In Angola, he is scheduled to hold consultations with cabinet officials to advance the U.S.-Angola Strategic Partnership Dialogue on energy, security, and other issues of mutual interest. He will also participate in the signing ceremony for a Bilateral Air Services Agreement and meet with the U.S.-Angola Chamber of Commerce to discuss ways to facilitate our bilateral trade and investment.
In South Africa, Under Secretary Burns will discuss with senior officials the path forward for the recently launched U.S.-South Africa Strategic Dialogue, which reinforces cooperation in key areas such as health, education, food security, law enforcement, trade, investment, energy and nonproliferation. In Namibia, he will discuss with President Hifikepunye Pohamba and other senior officials the successes and challenges in fighting HIV/AIDs, promoting democracy, and building prosperity through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact program. He will also deliver remarks at a MCC event to launch the donation of 700,000 textbooks to over 950 schools in Namibia. In Nigeria he will meet Acting President Goodluck Jonathan and Foreign Minister Henry Odein Ajumogobia to follow through on mutual commitments made in the recently launched U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission. Under Secretary Burns concludes his trip in Cape Verde, one of our strong partners in counternarcotics and the MCC. He will meet with Cape Verde Defense Minister Cristina Fontes and Foreign Minister Jose Brito.
